7 Habits of Highly Effective Teachers

Posted by teacher on November 17, 2006

by Joel Heffner

There are several factors in making an effective teacher. Most of the best teachers have all of them. How many do you have?

1. Effective teachers carefully prepare. Although it may look like something just pops up, planning is essential. Students sense that you are not really ready. Keeping an up-to-date lesson plan book and making notations on what works and what does not work is very helpful when getting ready for the next school year. There is no reason to re-invent the wheel when you find something that is very effective.

2. Effective teachers have a good rapport with students. The dictionary tells us that rapport means, “a close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned understand each other’s feelings or ideas and communicate well.” That does not mean that a teacher has to be the student’s friend!

3. Effective teachers communicate with parents. Providing an on-going channel of communications with parents is essential. Having a Web site is also a wonderful way of keeping parents (and students) up-to-date. Providing a newsletter is a great way to communicate with parents.

4. Effective teachers are consistent. Keep to your schedule. Say what you mean. Avoiding making threats and then not doing what you have promised.

5. Effective teachers are also learners. Go to conferences. Attend afterschool workshops. Ask your neighbor. Find out what others are doing.

6. Effective teachers do not listen to complainers. If you come across complainers in the lunch room, avoid them like the plague!

7. Effective teachers integrate technology into their classrooms. Computer are not going away. They are here to stay. The faster a teacher learns how to integrate them into the classroom, the better it will be for everyone.