An Effective Teacher

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What Makes a Teacher Effective? : A Formal Reflection Word Count 1206 Part 1 A Safe Classroom It is my belief, through research and experience, that creating a caring learning environment that is positive, safe and allows for healthy and meaningful relationships, is a key attribute of an effective teacher. As a child I attended eight schools due to circumstances outside of my control; this was obviously stressful. The most beneficial times for me were when I had teachers that sought to help me feel safe and cared about. Which teachers do I recall with fondness? Those that remembered my name, answered my questions and engaged my interest. Who hurt me academically and emotionally? Those who harangued and belittled, who allowed me to be bullied, who were disinterested in the students’ learning or allowed the disruptive influences to take over. I still can’t stand Captain Cook after a bad experience with an overbearing grade four teacher. The teachers I have known that have had the greatest positive social and learning impact on myself and my own children, are those that created a supportive and constructive classroom. When negative relationships and attitudes are allowed to flourish between students, their peers and teachers, it can be harmful to the students’ achievement. As noted by Krause, Bochner, Duchesne and McMaugh (2010, p. 508), “there is strong evidence that feelings of belonging are associated with academic achievement and students’ mental health and wellbeing.” The results of these studies reflect my belief that the classroom needs to foster positive peer and teacher relationships. When working as a relief teacher recently, I watched as another teacher harangued and belittled two students for laughing at a peer’s wrong answer, and then continued to revisit the issue in an unpleasant manner. The effective teacher would, in my view, have put in place

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