Several characteristics fashion an effective educator. One important characteristic is enthusiasm and passion. A great educator displays a love of teaching and learning in equal measure, thus truly reaching students. This enthusiasm and passion must be evident to all, because education is as much about modeling as it is direct instruction. But this enthusiasm and passion must not be contained to teaching and learning; I think students learn best from an educator who demonstrates interests in other aspects of life and brings, at appropriate times, that passion to school to connect with students. In extension of enthusiasm and passion, confidence in his or her abilities is crucial for an educator. Students must trust the teacher’s skills and knowledge as well as their passion for learning and teaching. Confidence is, of course, not always being right, but certainly being aware of one’s knowledge (and one’s limitations, in some situations!). One of the most important skills of an effective educator is creativity. Instruction should revolve around imaginative, engaging, and informative ways to teach students. Learning is not a static activity, and thus teaching should not be, either. A creative teacher recognizes that each moment, lesson, and day is an opportunity to help students gain knowledge about the world. An effective educator recognizes such a fact and generates lesson plans that capitalize on the ability to learn from small moments. Organization is another key aspect in being an effective educator; because of the nature of learning, an organized lesson plan for the day as well as a well-prepared classroom maximizes time spent learning. An effective educator recognizes the learning value in all situations, including the classroom arrangement itself. All of these characteristics optimize student learning.
My bPortfolio 