What makes a great teacher? Teaching is one of the most complicated jobs today. It demands broad knowledge of subject matter, curriculum, and standards; enthusiasm, a caring attitude, and a love of learning; knowledge of discipline and classroom management techniques; and a desire to make a difference in the lives of young people. With all these qualities required, it’s no wonder that it’s hard to find great teachers. Show
Here are some characteristics of great teachers
What No Child Left Behind means for teacher qualityThe role of the teacher became an even more significant factor in education with the passage of The No Child Left Behind law in 2002. Under the law, elementary school teachers must have a bachelor’s degree and pass a rigorous test in core curriculum areas. Middle and high school teachers must demonstrate competency in the subject area they teach by passing a test or by completing an academic major, graduate degree or comparable course work. These requirements already apply to all new hires. Schools are required to tell parents about the qualifications of all teachers, and they must notify parents if their child is taught for more than four weeks by a teacher who is not highly qualified. Schools that do not comply risk losing federal funding. Although the law required states to have highly qualified teachers in every core academic classroom by the end of the 2005-2006 school year, not a single state met that deadline. The U.S. Department of Education then required states to show how they intended to fulfill the requirement. Most states satisfied the government that they were making serious efforts, but a few were told to come up with new plans. Next page: How parents can advocate for qualified teachers How parents can advocate for qualified teachersOver the next decade, schools in the United States will be faced with the daunting task of hiring 2 million teachers. We know that high-quality teachers make all the difference in the classroom. We also know that it is becoming increasingly difficult to find them and keep them. Twenty percent of new teachers leave the classroom after four years, and many teachers will be retiring in the next 15 to 20 years. Recommendations from the National Commission on Teaching & America’s FutureIn 1996 the National Commission on Teaching & America’s Future, a private bipartisan panel, made several recommendations for ensuring that every classroom has a qualified teacher. Among the recommendations were the following key points:
Implementing these recommendations, however, is a slow process, dependent upon legislation as well as increased funding from both the federal and state governments, and a will to implement changes at the school district level. Parents can work together to keep the superintendent, their school board members and their state legislators focused on the goal of having a high-quality teacher in every classroom. Additional resourcesGive Kids Good Schools Resolving Conflict With Your Child’s Teacher National Board for Professional Teaching Standards The following books have information on teacher quality: McEwan, Elaine K., 10 Traits of Highly Successful Schools, Waterbrook Press, 1999 Bennett,
William J., The Educated Child, Simon & Schuster, 1999 Intrator, Sam M., Stories of the Courage to Teach, Jossey-Bass, 2002 Which is most frequently identified by educators as a characteristic of quality teaching?Of the following characteristics, which is most frequently identified by educators as a characteristic of quality teaching? Hands-on learning activities support students' acquisition of content knowledge.
Why is every teacher considered a teacher of reading quizlet?Why is every teacher considered a "teacher of reading"? a. Every teacher has the responsibility to teach students to decode and read fluently.
Which of the following finding of ETS's study how teaching matters was considered the most important factor on student achievement?ETS found that teachers' classroom practices, such as using hands-on learning activities and emphasizing higher-order thinking skills, had the largest effects on student achieve-ment, followed by teacher training that supported hands-on learning and higher-order thinking.
When formulating a literacy instructional plan for a reading student the teacher should consider all of the following strategies except?When formulating a literacy instructional plan for a reading student, the teacher should consider all of the following strategies except: explain to the student the importance of remaining in the same reading group throughout the academic year.
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