What Great Teachers Have In Common

In an informal survey, a number of students and teachers were asked to remember a special teacher they had and to list the qualities that made those teachers special. The survey's participants formed a diverse group, which included adults in education, research, business communities, and students in public schools, some who were receiving remedial tutoring. From the descriptions received, 11 common practices of good teaching were extracted, all directly related to challenge and engagement.

 1) THE MAKE LEARNING ENGAGING.
2) THEY HAVE PASSION FOR THE MATERIAL.
3) THEY HAVE DEEP SUBJECT KNOWLEDGE.
4) THEY ARE EXTREMELY ORGANIZED.
5) THEY ARE INTENSE.
6) THEY KNOW STUDENTS NEED TO BE RECOGNIZED FOR EVEN SMALL PROGRESS.
7) THEY TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT.
8) THEY ARE FAIR.
9) THEY BELIEVE ALL STUDENTS ARE NATURAL LEARNERS.
10) THEY MAKE IT IMPLICITLY KNOWN THEY LIKE BEING WITH THEIR STUDENTS.
11) THEY PLACE PRIORITY ON INDIVIDUALIZED TEACHING.

-Swen Nater and Ronald Gallimore, taken from You Haven’t Taught Until They Have Learned, John Wooden’s Teaching Principles and Practices.