5 HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL TEACHERS

Megan Faux

If you have ever been out of the classroom at some point in your career, you will notice that there are certain habits that teachers instinctively do, in order to ensure the successful learning of their students. These teachers are called  natural teachers. These natural teachers produce students who are academically successful.  Here are 6 habits of highly successful teachers. 

1.  PROVIDE CLEAR EXPECTATIONS

The natural teacher sets clear expectations, objectives and outcomes for their students. Whether it’s instruction or behavior, they will explicitly state the expected outcome.  In addition to stating outcomes, natural teachers give examples, provide models and support students to render the expected outcome.   

2. BASE TEACHING ON STANDARDS NOT CURRICULUM

Knowing the standards and knowing the targeted objective is the hallmark of a natural teacher. The natural teacher teaches the standard and uses the curriculum to support their efforts, not the other way around. The natural teacher knows that a student is successful if they know explicitly what they are required to learn, vs. learning by happenstance; which is what can happen when you teach curriculum vs. narrowing in on the standard.   

3. ENGAGE STUDENTS IN LEARNING

The natural teacher knows that non-engagement means boredom. Boredom creates problems and is an indication that learning is not taking place. Natural teachers engage students because it is their way of assessing what the child knows and needs help with.  They know that non-engagement also means that students are less likely to retain information from the lesson, which means academic failure. As a result,  the natural teacher works tirelessly to engage their students with song, hand gestures, group work, presentation choices, instructional cards, digital presentations, physical interaction, pair share and ball tosses, all in the name of learning. 

4. CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING

The natural teacher is a curious cat.  They want to know if students are learning what they are teaching, way before assessment time. Therefore, these teachers check for understanding during every lesson, all throughout the lesson.  They don’t stop there. They actually use their results from this informal assessment, to either move on to the next phase of the lesson or reteach the whole group or small group if students did not get it. 

5. GUIDE AND MONITOR STUDENTS DURING INDEPENDENT PRACTICE

Natural teachers engage their students during independent instruction. They first complete a portion of the independent work with students. Next, they roam the room as students are working. Their goal, to determine if students are able to complete the assignment accurately and independently.    If you are not instinctively a natural teacher, then these 5 habits can help you get there.