What makes an effective teacher?

The only way to have an effective school is to have effective teachers.

- Harry Wong

The genius of effective teachers is described in various ways:

They watch all, but only steal from the best.

Always thinking, dreaming and planning.

They have high expectations that all of their students will succeed.

They are extremely good classroom managers.

They know how to design lessons to help students reach mastery.

Teachers who have become ineffective, have become that way because they have lost their habit of continually learning. Good habits are the key to all success.

What is a habit? It is something you do over and over again, without thinking about it. For example, fold your hands together. Which thumb is on top? That is something you do without thinking... it's a habit.

What do successful students do by habit? Think about this for a moment...

Did you think of things like:

• bring everything they need to school
• sit near the front
• ask questions

Even in grade two, students are developing habits. You, as a parent, have a very significant role to play in the development of those habits. So do I, as their teacher. The most significant habit that I aim to pass on to my students is my continual desire to learn.

A person can only learn when they have learned to listen. Rather than saying, "This doesn't apply to me," and tuning out, I am always trying to take everything in, just in case an "Aha" moment may come along.

An effective teacher will help their students connect learning to the great ideas within the modern world. That is my role.

The message must fit the student. The learning activity must fit the student. Students must experience success and know what they are responsible for learning.

"Successful classrooms are structured and businesslike, but they have a very warm and loving environment." It is who I am as a teacher, the principles by which I live, that will make the difference for my students.