Qualities of Effective Teacher and their impact on Students Achievement

Qualities of Effective Teacher and their impact on Students Achievement

Thesis Statement

Success or achievement of the students are always tied with mentoring of teachers. Effective Teacher play their roles for fostering the students effectively.

Discussion

Teachers provided the most descriptors of effective teaching, followed by principals and school board members. Board members emphasized product, while the principals and teachers focused on process and person, using descriptors such as instructional strategies, identification of lesson objectives, monitoring and assessing students, student-centeredness, positive learning environment, and flexibility of instruction. All three groups recognized the importance of the following attributes (Johnson, 1997):

Teacher as person—knowledge and caring.

Teaching process—classroom control and communication.

Teaching product—on-task behavior and process/learning/mastery.

Only teachers included teacher outcomes in their descriptors. The greatest level of consensus within a group was among teachers, which may have been attributable to the common experience of the teacher training programs that many completed (Johnson, 1997).

Descriptors that maximize the commonalities and are specific enough to warrant teacher acceptance may have implications for construction of a teacher evaluation model (Johnson, 1997). Effective teaching involves a two-way communicative process initiated by a teacher who is well versed in the subject matter, caring, and able to establish and maintain classroom control. In such a setting students are continually attentive and progress in their learning.

Annotated Bibliography

Cawelti, G. (1999). Portraits of Six Benchmark Schools: Diverse Approaches to Improving Student Achievement. Arlington, VA: Educational Research Service.

Summary: Six schools from around the country are profiled as models for their approaches to meeting the needs of challenging students. Although the schools have different approaches to creating high standards for student achievement, they have specific factors in common. The common factors include a focus on standards, teamwork, the principal as an instructional leader, changes to the student's instructional life, and dedicated teachers. In all six schools, the teachers' foundational commitment to student success is instrumental in the quality of the approaches taken by schools. On a daily basis, the teachers implement strategies to promote student success. Common denominators of these benchmark schools include teachers committed to the daily task of preparing students, high standards, an environment designed to ensure success, and unpredicted achievement at high levels based on student characteristics. In addition, the model schools link their programs to state-established standards and develop high-quality staff development practices. Parental support is strong and includes the monitoring of assignments by parents. For students who require additional assistance, summer programs are available.

Each of the six profiled schools is unique in its approach to meeting the needs of the student population. Strong leadership is vital in giving direction, and the teachers are exemplary in their dedication to being accountable in order to effect change.

Cawelti, G. (Ed.). (2004). Handbook of Research on Improving Student Achievement (3rd ed.). Arlington, VA: Educational Research Service.

Summary: This research-based compendium of classroom practices for enhancing student achievement was compiled for use by teachers, principals, other instructional leaders, and policymakers. In addition to providing information on specific educational practices, the book contains feedback ...