Qualities of an Effective Teacher

1.    Makes student learning the primary focus of attention;  transforms knowledge into effective student understanding.

2.    Has positive regard for all students, and maintains respect for them whatever their exhibited strengths and weaknesses.

3.    Works to establish a positive and fair classroom environment, in which all students learn from one another and treat each other with respect.

4.    Establishes high but not unreachable standards;  provides support to enable students to reach those standards.

5.    Values active over passive learning, and works to enhance students' own motivation and capacity to learn.

6.    Attends to student "feedback" in organizing, presenting, and structuring material, without compromising high standards and goals.

7.    Models the kinds of understanding and wisdom that students should seek to develop.

8.    Creates a serious and thoughtful learning environment, while using light touches and humor to create a sense of community.

9.    Continues to learn from students and to grow in understanding of course content;  uses previous experience to continually freshen perspectives.

10.    Holds himself/herself accountable to high standards of performance;  seeks continual improvement in present and future performance.

QUALITY TEACHING

1. Quality teaching is characterised by teachers who can apply a wide range of organisational and instructional strategies which are appropriate: to student learning styles and educational need to the subject being taught and to the school contextin a disciplined and purposeful classroom.

This means, for example, that teachers: have effective supervisory strategies to keep student safe match the students’ needs to the work being done know how to accommodate different learning styles have thought about: how they themselves learn best; the classroom environment they providing for all students; and the relationship between the two provide students with time to experiment with applications from a range of

technologies create enjoyable and stimulating learning environments maximise actual net learning time

In the classroom* this means, for example, that teachers: maintain a classroom climate conducive to quality teaching and quality learning provide opportunities for students to work individually and in small groups as well as with the whole class teach students how to work collaboratively provide opportunities for students to seek help from and work with peers link new material

to what students already know to students’ own lives

engage students emotionally as well as intellectually

*the term ‘classroom’ in thisdocument is used to include alllearning settings both insideand outside schools.

QUALITY TEACHING

Quality teaching depends on the creation of a learning environment whichpromotes and supports the learning of all students.

Quality teaching is characterised by teachers who:

1. can apply a wide range of organisational and instructional strategies which are appropriate to student learning styles and educational need, the subject being taught and the school context, in a disciplined and purposeful classroom;

2. monitor individual student learning, give relevant feedback, and plan according to the needs of individuals, group and the whole class;

3. foster independent learning, give students a language to talk about it, and expect students to take resposibility for their learning;

4. develop ethical relationship based on good communication skills and respect for all student as individuals and expect respect in return;

5. have an up-to-date knowledge and are enthusiastic proponents of curriculum confent;

6. eritically reflect on their practice and demonstrate their commitment to life-long learning by seeking out appropriate collegial support and furthering their own professional development;

7. can articulat their beliefs about learning and the principles which underpin their teaching;

8. believe in the ability of all students to learn, expect all students to learn and convey this expectation to individuals, the class and the community;

9. actively engage students in learning experiences which deal with issues which students regard as important to their lives; and

10. help students to make connections, to understand relationships