Educational Philosophy: How to Become an Effective Teacher What are the characteristics of an effective teacher? What is a learning style and why is it important for teachers to understand their personal learning style and that of their students? There are multiple definitions of what effective teachers are and how their effectiveness is measured. There are several qualities that effective teachers should possess. Matthew 19:14 says, “But Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them: for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven” (King James Version). Teachers should ensure that they do their best to help their students learn based on each student's individual needs. Aspiring teachers need to learn about the characteristics of effective teachers to become better teachers themselves. Effective teachers understand their own learning styles, create a learning community that includes classroom management and parent involvement, use motivation techniques, differentiate instruction, and have a personal Christian educational philosophy. Discussion of Key Terms There are several key terms discussed in this document. The term “effective teacher” is used frequently in the field of education. There are different opinions on the exact definition, but for purposes here, an effective teacher is a teacher who exhibits specific characteristics necessary to create the best learning environment for students. “Learning styles” refer to the different ways in which individuals learn. Bostrom (2011, p. 18) supports this definition by stating that “learning style theories simply assume that everyone can learn, but in different ways and to different degrees.” Differentiated instruction describes the methods used by tea... middle of paper... enthusiastic about learning. “Thinking about and planning uses of technology in the classroom (e.g., email, blogs, and websites) is essential to building an effective classroom environment” (2010, p. 4). The use of technology in classrooms to differentiate instruction has several valuable uses and can be positive if used correctly. Ability Grouping Effective teachers use ability grouping to differentiate instruction in their classrooms. In a study conducted by Alcock and Hulmes (2010), “Students differentiated by ability experienced greater variety as they were grouped based on aptitude for specific skills, which differed by task” p. 76. There are several methods teachers can use to group their students. An example of ability grouping in the classroom might be to organize math or reading groups in which students read or solve problems that are at their individual levels.