Study after study shows the single most important factor determining the quality of the education a child receives is the quality of his teacher.

What makes a great teacher? Teaching is one of the most complicated jobs today. It demands broad knowledge of subject matter, curriculum, and standards; enthusiasm, a caring attitude, and a love of learning; knowledge of discipline and classroom management techniques; and a desire to make a difference in the lives of young people. With all these qualities required, it’s no wonder that it’s hard to find great teachers.

Here are some characteristics of great teachers

• Great teachers set high expectations for all students. They expect that all students can and will achieve in their classroom, and they don’t give up on underachievers.
• Great teachers have clear, written-out objectives. Effective teachers have lesson plans that give students a clear idea of what they will be learning, what the assignments are and what the grading policy is. Assignments have learning goals and give students ample opportunity to practice new skills. The teacher is consistent in grading and returns work in a timely manner.
• Great teachers are prepared and organized. They are in their classrooms early and ready to teach. They present lessons in a clear and structured way. Their classrooms are organized in such a way as to minimize distractions.
• Great teachers engage students and get them to look at issues in a variety of ways. Effective teachers use facts as a starting point, not an end point; they ask “why” questions, look at all sides and encourage students to predict what will happen next. They ask questions frequently to make sure students are following along. They try to engage the whole class, and they don’t allow a few students to dominate the class. They keep students motivated with varied, lively approaches.
• Great teachers form strong relationships with their students and show that they care about them as people. Great teachers are warm, accessible, enthusiastic and caring. Teachers with these qualities are known to stay after school and make themselves available to students and parents who need them. They are involved in school-wide committees and activities, and they demonstrate a commitment to the school.
• Great teachers are masters of their subject matter. They exhibit expertise in the subjects they are teaching and spend time continuing to gain new knowledge in their field. They present material in an enthusiastic manner and instill a hunger in their students to learn more on their own.
• Great teachers communicate frequently with parents. They reach parents through conferences and frequent written reports home. They don’t hesitate to pick up the telephone to call a parent if they are concerned about a student.

What No Child Left Behind means for teacher quality

The role of the teacher became an even more significant factor in education with the passage of The No Child Left Behind law in 2002.

Under the law, elementary school teachers must have a bachelor’s degree and pass a rigorous test in core curriculum areas. Middle and high school teachers must demonstrate competency in the subject area they teach by passing a test or by completing an academic major, graduate degree or comparable course work. These requirements already apply to all new hires.

Schools are required to tell parents about the qualifications of all teachers, and they must notify parents if their child is taught for more than four weeks by a teacher who is not highly qualified. Schools that do not comply risk losing federal funding.

Although the law required states to have highly qualified teachers in every core academic classroom by the end of the 2005-2006 school year, not a single state met that deadline.

The U.S. Department of Education then required states to show how they intended to fulfill the requirement. Most states satisfied the government that they were making serious efforts, but a few were told to come up with new plans.

Most teachers have little control over school policy or curriculum or choice of texts or special placement of students, but most have a great deal of autonomy inside the classroom. To a degree shared by only a few other occupations, such as police work, public education rests precariously on the skill and virtue of the people at the bottom of the institutional pyramid.

That a peculiar interest attaches to the boyhood of great men will hardly be denied by any one who has given the slightest attention to the subject. The early exploits and aspirations of those who have performed memorable services to their country and their species, led mighty armies into the field, advanced the progress of humanity and civilisation, achieved important triumphs in literature and science, or associated their names honourably and indissolubly with some great profession, are matters fraught with instruction to the young, and with interest to all. The object of the following pages is to place before the reader brief narratives of the career of those who have fought their way to eminence and distinction in various walks of life; and thus to develope in the mind of youth noble tastes and high principles, as well as to inspire and sustain that spirit of industry, which is essential to the attainment of any position worth striving for. Youth is the season of generous impulses and high resolves; the career of the boy usually foreshadows that of the man; no day passes without experiences which will lead to good or evil, just as they are neglected or profited by; and the importance of directing the attention to laudable pursuits, by actual examples, at an age when the heart and mind are peculiarly susceptible of lasting impressions, can scarcely be questioned.

Have a nice Sunday morning,the last day of the month of January 2016,time is so fast. Anyway be happy always remember, time is gold. More blessings to all bloggers and to my co-school mate who are here now specially to Amber 5 to Ms. Joy Lucero, our English teacher..Good morning to all.

   Life is not entirely a bed of roses . There are also  thorns along the way. If you fall, get up and move on...

Hello to Ma'am Joy Lucero, tanks a lot for informing us to the web site of the English club and being one of the members here. Good day to all bloggers and to all my Amber classmates..

t was a sunny day, but the climate was enjoyable. Everyone in the railway station was waiting for the train to arrive. Among the crowd, there was a group of friends, youngsters who were on board for vacation.
It was a busy station with juice shop, mobile restaurants, coffee and tea stalls, newspaper shop, restaurants, etc. The announcement regarding the arrival of the train was made and everyone prepared to get into the train to their appropriate places.

The group of friends made loud noise to welcome the train as it entered the station. They ran to get their reserved seats before anyone could get into the train.

The empty seats were filled and the train whistled to move. An old man with a young boy aged around 15 years came running to catch the train. They entered the train and the train started to move. They had their seats just adjacent to the friends’ group.

The young boy was so surprised to see everything.

He acclaimed at his father, ‘Dad, the train is moving and the things are moving backwards.’
His father smiled and nodded his head.

As the train started moving fast, the young boy again screamed, ‘Dad the trees are green in colour and run backward very fast.’ His father said, ‘Yes dear’ and smiled.

Just like a kid, he was watching everything with great enthusiasm and happiness loaded with tons of surprises.

A fruit seller passed selling apples and oranges. The young boy asked his dad, ‘I want to eat apples.’ His father bought him apples. He said, ‘Oh apple looks so sweet than it tastes’ I love this colour.’

The group was watching all the activities of this boy and asked the boy’s father ‘Is your son having any problem? Why is he behaving very differently?’

A friend from the group made fun of him and shouted, ‘His son is mad I think.’

The father of the young boy, with patience, replied to the friend-group.

‘My son was born blind. Only a few days before he was operated and got the vision. He is seeing various things in his life for the first time.’

The young friends became very quiet and apologized to his father and son.
Think Before You Speak

English is very important without English,we cannot communicate to other countries if we were lost. It is important because it is universal subjects in the world. And it is one the major subject. And English subject has 4 major parts, reading,speaking,listening,and writing. We also need to study English no matter who you are.

Thank you and God Bless... from Salahuddin Olay Jr. of DCFI-MARAWI CITY