10 What Makes an Effective Teacher? Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. What Makes an Effective Teacher?

10

What Makes an Effective Teacher?

Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.

What Makes an Effective Teacher?• Being comfortable in numerous roles• Exhibiting professionalism• Working well within the school• Displaying knowledge and teaching

skill• Communicating effectively• Dealing with conflicts


For Discussion

• What qualities do you possess that will help make you an effective teacher?

© Michael D. Brown/Shutterstock


Objective

• Describe the major roles that teachers perform.

© Dmitry Shironosov/Shutterstock


Five Key Roles of a Teacher

• Information provider

• Facilitator• Planner• Learning evaluator• Role model © Lisa F. Young/Shutterstock


Teachers Provide Information• Know the content well• Knowledge base should be appropriate

for the teaching level• Choose and evaluate accuracy of

information• Present the information in a variety of

interesting ways


Teachers Facilitate Learning• As facilitators, teachers guide students’

learning– Requires students to do the work of learning– Promotes creativity and self-motivation

• Different from directive learning where teachers tell students what to learn and provide all the structure for the learning to take place

• Facilitation is a learned skill• Both directive learning and facilitation is

needed. (pg. 220)


Pg. 220 – Teachers Facilitate Learning• Facilitators guide students’ learning.

They:– plan what will be taught– figure how to best present the material– lead discussions– ask questions– suggest alternative ideas– devise and guide student activities– help students work together


Benefits of Facilitation

• Unleashes students’ creativity and self-motivation

• Pride and ownership in learning• Motivated and engaged students cause

less behavior problems


Teachers Plan for Learning

• What information will be learned

• How it will be presented

• What the outcomes should be

• How to adapt to the unexpected

• How to assess

© Michal Kowalski/Shutterstock


Teachers Plan for Learning

• Utilize resources to adapt lesson for different types of learners

• Make learning challenging, fun, inspiring, and effective.

© Michal Kowalski/Shutterstock


Teachable Moments Happen• Unforeseen teaching opportunities

come along in the course of a lesson (teachable moments)– Changes can enhance learning and teach

students flexibility

© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.


Teachers Evaluate Learning• May or may not result in a grade (letter

or number)• Grading policies should be clear to

students• Assessment determines how much a

student is learning


Evaluation vs Assessment

• Evaluation (grading) measures progress. What is a student learning/not learning?

• An assessment CAN be used as an evaluation tool; however, an assessment is a report on achievement – no judgment or consideration of quality is used.

• Grading and assessment involves monitoring student progress.


Teachers Are Role Models

• Teachers’ behavior can have a positive or negative effect on students

• Effective teachers act as examples of– honesty– respect– Responsibility

• Effective teachers “walk the talk”


For Reflection

• How have your teachers acted as role models for you?

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Objective

• Identify teachers’ professional qualities that have had an impact on your life.

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Developing Professional Qualities• Professionalism includes a high degree

of– skill– competence– ethics


Be Dependable

• Dependability includes being– on time– prepared to teach– loyal– reliable


Be Responsible

• Being responsible includes– being committed to obligations,

relationships, and actions– accepting blame for mistakes– doing your best on a team– carrying a task through to the end


Be Committed to Students

• Help each student learn by understanding their abilities, skills, interests, strengths, and relationships

• Teachers also help foster a student’s– self-esteem– motivation to learn


Show Respect

• Teachers must show regard for each person’s needs, feelings, and potential

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continued


Show Respect

• Also must show respect to everyone on staff

• Includes being courteous to support staff

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Be a Team Player

• Effective interpersonal skills help you be a good team player

• Almost all jobs require collaboration• Teachers are required to work well

with students, other teachers, staff, administrators, and school board members


See the Big Picture

• Avoid getting bogged down in day-to-day tasks and problems

• Stay focused on the real goals• Do not overlook the details


Develop a Positive Attitude

• Get satisfaction from the job• Have optimism and energy

© oliveromg/Shutterstock continued


Develop a Positive Attitude

• Benefits include energizing others• To improve your attitude,

– think about what you like best about the job– focus on strides students are making– change whatever is within your power to

improve


For Discussion

• What can be the result if a teacher has a poor attitude? How can this affect the students?



Objective

• Compare your school’s written information on organizational culture to your observations.

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Working Effectively Within a School

• A school’s organizational culture includes– things you can see,

such as the way people dress

© Yuri Arcurs/Shutterstock

continued


Working Effectively Within a School• A school’s organizational culture

includes– people’s assumptions, values, and reasons

for behaviors and actions– school policies and procedures, such as the

mission statement– the chain of command

continued


Working Effectively Within a School• Ask questions• Pay attention to conversations• Find out

– how people negotiate issues– how things get done– who really has the most influence


For Discussion

• What might happen if a teacher does not understand the school’s organizational culture?



Objective

• Explain the importance of subject-matter knowledge to teachers and how they can stay updated. © Kruchankova

Maya/Shutterstock


Subject Knowledge and Teaching Skills• Teachers need a broad understanding

of their subject matter, including– how it relates to basic academic skills– how it relates to students’ future careers

• Must be lifelong learners

continued


Subject Knowledge and Teaching Skills• Take advantage of opportunities for

professional development, such as– professional organizations– seminars and conferences– advanced degrees

• Must be able to teach subject matter in addition to knowing it


Objective

• Demonstrate your ability to produce clear, professional, written communication.

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Communicating Effectively

• Every aspect of teaching is based on communication

• People communicate without realizing they are doing so


Verbal vs Nonverbal

• Verbal – spoken words, tone of voice• Nonverbal – body language, facial

expressions, posture, eye contact (or lack of it)

• Every word spoken, gesture, action, and facial expression sends a message that is interpreted by the receiver.


The sender and receiver

• Sender – the person who transmits a message

• Receiver – the person who accepts a message

• To avoid mixed messages, verbal and nonverbal messages should match


Two components of effective communication• Communication must occur in the

context of positive relationships• Each form of communication depends

on specific, but related, skills


Forms of Communication

• Verbal• Nonverbal• Written• Electronic


Communication & Relationships• Positive relationships = good

communication• Negative relationships = poor

communication– Page 230: You are mad at your brother. He

asks if you will swap chores with him…• Him = Please, trade jobs with me…• You = He’s just trying to get out of work!

UGH!!!

– Because of feelings, you put a negative spin on a neutral message.


Creating Positive Relationships• Take ownership in the relationship—

take responsibility for your feelings and behaviors rather than blame others– Example: If you feel sad, acknowledge “I feel sad,” rather than

thinking “You make me sad.” Your feelings are your own!!! Possibly you are influenced by events, but another person does not cause your feelings. (You are in control of your feelings, thoughts, actions, and reactions.)

– You can encourage students to behave, but you cannot force them to want to behave.

– Rewards, encouragement, or punishments may influence a person toward a behavior, but the motivation must come from the person. continued


Creating Positive Relationships• Be an active listener—ask questions,

restate ideas, focus on the other person– Active listening requires that you focus on

the other person, staying in the present moment and increasing the exchange of clear communication.

– Active listening can solve a problem!

continued


Creating Positive Relationships• Use assertive communication—express

thoughts, ideas, and feelings freely and allow others to as well

• To be an assertive communicator, avoid being– an aggressive communicator, who is

hurtful and disrespectful– a passive communicator, who avoids

conflict by not communicating


For Reflection

• Do you see yourself as an assertive, aggressive, or passive communicator?



Improving Communication Skills• Skills include

– speaking– writing– nonverbal communication– electronic communication


Speaking

• Teachers must speak with thought and purpose

• Use time effectively• Consider your audience’s

– needs– interests– motivation– understanding

continued


Speaking

• Remember that teachers are almost never off duty

© CandyBox Images/Shutterstock continued


Speaking

• Never speak badly about coworkers or students

• Never reveal personal or confidential information

• ALWAYS think before you speak


Writing

• Avoid trying to impress people with complicated words and long sentences

• Organize your writing effectively• Check grammar and language• Realize that anything you write may

be permanent


For Reflection

• Do you always use appropriate writing skills? In what circumstances might you NOT write appropriately?



Nonverbal Communication

• Become more aware of

nonverbal cues, such as– facial expressions– body posture– movements– tone of voice– appearance

© Piotr Marcinski/Shutterstock


Electronic Communication

• Once an electronic message is sent, you have no control over what happens to it

• Electronic communication allows teachers to stay in touch with students and parents

• Use e-mail, text messages, and website posts carefully, thoughtfully, and cautiously


Objective• Identify the steps in constructive conflict

resolution and describe the goal of mediation.© AISPIX/Shutterstock


Resolving Conflicts

• Conflict is inevitable, as people have different ideas, beliefs, and priorities

• Conflicts can be positive and enriching• Keep others’ feelings about conflict in

mind• Teachers must routinely deal with

conflicts


Constructive Conflict Resolution• A step-by-step method of coming to a

solution• A process that moves from decision

making to problem solving to crisis resolution

© Marcin Balerzak/Shutterstock continued


Constructive Conflict Resolution• Step 1: Clarify the issue

– Make sure parties identify the same problem

• Step 2: Find out what each person wants

• Step 3: Identify various alternatives– Both parties should brainstorm creative

solutions

• Step 4: Decide how to negotiatecontinued


Constructive Conflict Resolution• Step 5: Choose the best alternative

– What alternative can both parties accept?

• Step 6: Solidify the agreement– Agree to implement the accepted choice

• Step 7: Review and renegotiate– The problem may not always be solved if

the parties do not follow through


Mediation

• Disagreements that are not easily solved may require a mediator

• During mediation, a neutral third party tries to help reach a peaceful settlement

• Teachers frequently act as mediators


For Discussion

• Based on your experience, what makes a teacher an effective mediator?



Key Points• Teachers play a variety of roles• Success requires an understanding of

the organizational culture• Teachers also need knowledge of their

subject area, skills to motivate students, lifelong learning, communication skills, and conflict management skills


Review• What is involved in assessment?determining how much a student or

class has learned or is currently learning

• ____ include conduct based on moral principles.

Ethics

continued


Review• What is the chain of command?the official organizational structure

that tells who reports to whom

• Why is being lifelong learners important for teachers?

so they stay up-to-date in their knowledge and skills

Documents

10 What Makes an Effective Teacher? Permission granted to reproduce for educational use only.© Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. What Makes an Effective Teacher?