Effective Teachers This week students have learned how theories, laws, principles governing competent teachers, and beliefs are related. Using information from our reading assignment this week and reflections on your own personal experiences:
Describe two characteristics that competent (perhaps even outstanding) teachers possess and how they relate to student learning.
The two characteristics that I chose are:
Communication skills -The teacher uses knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom (LeFrancois, 2011). I believe being able to communicate well is what is required to be a great teacher. To express the contents of your lessons so everyone understands can determine a good teacher from a not so good teacher.

Planning skills -The teacher plans instruction based upon knowledge of subject matter, students, the community, and curriculum goals (LeFrancois, 2011). Prior planning prevents poor performance is one of my favorite mantras. Being prepared for each class everyday consistently makes for a good teacher. I would not want to face my students unprepared. That is like cheating them out of a day’s learning.

Provide an example that illustrates how teacher beliefs impact student learning
Some studies indicate that learners for whom teachers have high expectations are more likely to achieve at a high level (the so-called halo effect) than are students for whom teachers have very low expectations (Tenenbaum & Martin, 2007). These teacher beliefs are raising the bar for these students to reach success, but when the teacher has low expectations then they transfer these beliefs to the student and it is setting them up for failure.

LeFrancois, G. (2011). Psychology for teaching (11th ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education,