One of the unforgettable questions during interviews for beginning teachers is “What are the characteristics of an effective teacher?” Remembering the best teachers around and even those we encountered before may give us a lot of excellent remarks describing what such a teacher does to be effective.

            An amazing picture of an effective teacher is one who is on fire every class period, whose enthusiasm is really contagious. One who can make every teaching-learning moment worthwhile. For most educators know that the best visual aid is the presence of an enthusiastic teacher in front of the class. However, it is not a fading fact that children really look for something that catches their attention when learning wherein the creativity, artistic skill and patience of a teacher in making such materials would also be required.

            Another significant thing to consider is learning by doing opportunities given to our students. A teacher can also be effective if he can provide activities allowing the participation of children that make them remember every detail and supporting theories because they experienced it. It is in this sense that teachers need not to consume all their energies the whole day in teaching. It’s a matter of planning for activities that would direct the students into the hands on seat and then the teachers get out of the way. Students learn best by personally experiencing learning that is physical, emotional, intellectual and eve n spiritual. This has been a proven strategy attributed to John Dewey’s theory of experiential learning.

By: EDILINA P. ENRIQUEZ | TEACHER III | CALUNGUSAN ELEM. SCHOOL | ORION, BATAAN