Angela Marie Sanchez

5/7/2016

Vision of an Effective Teacher

My vision of an effective teacher is an individual who is personable. A personable
teacher will dress appropriately for the position, speak in an appropriate tone and volume, and
have a classroom that reflects a positive, safe environment. These qualities are important for an
effective teacher because what is visually seen can create an automatic reaction and be very
influential in first opinions. First opinions can be made daily.
An effective teacher should also be professional. Some professional attributes include
performing assigned duties in a professional manner, collaborating with the department, parents
and administrative staff appropriately and containing the ability to request technical support
when necessary. Performing these attributes is important because students are always watching.
If an effective teacher performs these tasks appropriately, not only will they receive the
assistance needed, but they will also be demonstrating to their students how to handle situations
properly.
It is important for an effective teacher to be proficient in their management and
organization skills. Some skills can include maintaining daily routines and procedures,
displaying students work/projects, and maintaining a clean and orderly classroom at all times.
Proficiency in the area of management and organizational skills are important because there will
be enough real time scenarios that will occur in the classroom daily. Being organized and
having a system will allow things to run smoothly.
Effective teachers must also have a solid grasp on instruction. Having the ability to
successfully implement changes as suggested by peers/admin, providing lesson plans that are
learner-centered, and providing instruction through a variety of methods: visual, auditory and
kinesthetic, are all imperative actions of an effective teacher. Students will be afforded the
opportunity to grasp more information through the utilization of different methods. They will be
able to learn and make more sense of things when taught though different strategies daily.
An effective teacher is also someone who is able to recognize and maintain students
progress and potential. The practice of consistently grading and providing feedback to students
assignments in a professional manner and providing reteach opportunities after each skill display
an effective teachers attempts toward maintaining students progress and potential.

All of the qualities of an effective teacher discussed above are important in every
classroom because an effective teacher must have a mindset that all students will achieve success
and learn. They have to believe that success for all will occur and be diligent in finding the
appropriate learning path that each student excels as. As a result students will be able to learn

how to confidently answer higher order thinking questions when challenged and be able to
recognize their growth.
The design and implementation of an effective class structure is also crucial in the plans
of an effective teacher. An effective teacher should explain expectations from day one and be
consistent. Expectations can be outlined in student syllabus. Teachers should emphasize
obedience to following expectations by praising good behaviors. If the students are given to
opportunity to feel empowered and a part of the bigger picture, contributing to classroom
success, they will feel comfortable in their learning environment and be ready for successful
learning.
The strategies used in order to make a classroom learner centered are also what make an
effective teacher effective. Some strategies include providing routine partner accountability
opportunities, hands on activities/games, and presenting instruction through several different
learning approaches for each subject, followed by formative assessments. Students need to feel
engaged. An effective teacher should be able to spend more time observing student and tweaking
subjects as necessary to ensure students are learning.

An effective teacher will ensure these things are enforced though the use of rules,
procedures, routines and organization. Some examples of rules to be followed include: no foul
language, always bring required materials to class, no talking when not supposed to, no use or
visibility of cell phones/headphones in class, and always treat others the way you want to be
treated. A few procedures to be enforced include: the bell does not dismiss you, I do, how to
turn in papers, assigned group partners, 3 step discipline policy. Classroom routines that can be
followed are use of daily warm up activities, how to fill out class heading on papers and the
completion of exit slips activity. Some organizational tips to be used by effective teachers
include: designated area for pick up/return make up work, written daily objective always in the
same location, class rules visibly posted and the use of tardy sign in sheet.

And lastly, if needed, an effective teacher will be prepared to incorporate

accommodations and or modifications for their students, individually or for the class as a whole.
When preparing to provide accommodations for a student, an effective teacher will need to think
of changes that will help a student overcome or work around the current disability. An example
of this can be done by reducing the number of questions a student will be required to answer. If
modifications are further necessary, an effective teacher will need to alter instruction and
assessment. For example a change in content may need to be had, requiring an effective teacher
to make sentences in simple language. Both accommodations and modifications implemented by
an effective teacher should serve to assist the student to achieve success.