Learn some general rules about what makes a great teacher. This advice is especially useful for back-to-school and new teachers.
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Student Orientation

If you were to walk into the classroom of any outstanding teacher, regardless of her or his grade level, one thing will become immediately clear: students are respected, attended to, and clearly more important than the subject matter or the instructional materials used.

Expert Opinion

Well-known educator William Purkey once said, “Effective teachers let students know that they are somebody, not some body.”

Showing You Care

The best teachers are those who truly care for their students. They exhibit empathy and try to see the world through their students' eyes. They know students have good days and bad days just like they do, and they adjust their instruction accordingly.

So, too, are good teachers sensitive to their students' cultural backgrounds. They respect students' languages, customs, traditions, and beliefs. They never make fun of students who are different but rather celebrate these new opportunities for enriching the learning experiences of all students.

Students need to know that they will never be embarrassed or ridiculed nor will they be intimidated or shown excessive favoritism. The best teachers have positive attitudes about everyone in the school — students, custodians, secretaries, aides, librarians, cafeteria workers, and fellow teachers. High-achieving classrooms are supportive, warm, and accepting.

Good teachers listen. They're aware of the “rule of two-thirds,” which states that in traditional classrooms (regardless of grade or subject) two thirds of class time is taken up by talking, two thirds of that time is taken up by teacher talk, and two thirds of the teacher's talk is telling or demonstrating rather than interacting with students. These teachers know that students have much to contribute to the curriculum and to each other and provide numerous opportunities for them to do so.

Fire Alarm

It's been proven that 90 percent of the positive things students do go unrecognized in the classroom.

Outstanding teachers know criticism has a negative impact on students' learning potential and use more encouragement than criticism. They maintain a high ratio of positive to negative comments (3:1—good; 5:1—better; 8:1—best).

Effective teachers provide opportunities for students to get extra help. They are observant of students' needs and work to provide the instruction or materials that will help them succeed and flourish. Student progress is constantly monitored and adjusted as necessary.

Featured High School Resources

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Animal Farm Teaching Unit Kit

Everything you need to teach a full or partial unit on Animal Farm Help your students dive into the modern relevance, m...

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National Poetry Month Themed Packet for High School

To celebrate Poetry Month, this resource shares 3 activities that will help high school students to engage with poetry i...

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Romeo and Juliet Teaching Unit Kit

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Romeo and Juliet Teaching Unit Kit

A complete teaching kit for a full or partial unit on Romeo and Juliet Take your students on a thought-provoking, insig...

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Fire Alarm Teachers often make the mistake of using “stop” messages rather than a “start” message.

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Classroom Routines and Schedules

What are the best routines and schedules to use in aclassroom? Routines are a way of managing the classroom.

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Classroom Management & Success as a Teacher

Classroom Management & Success as a Teacher Managing a classroom requires many tasks; however, it's important to remembe...

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Standards for Good Teaching

Standards for Good Teaching You and I and a couple million other people have all been in schools for a number of years,...

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Behavior Management Tips from Veteran Teachers

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REFERENCE

Frequently Asked Questions on Inclusion

From: The ERIC Clearinghouse on Disabilities and Gifted Education  How can inclusive practices be incorporated in ear...

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About the author

TeacherVision Staff

TeacherVision Editorial Staff

The TeacherVision editorial team is comprised of teachers, experts, and content professionals dedicated to bringing you the most accurate and relevant information in the teaching space.

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