# TEACHING TIP SHEET

## 10 Tips on Becoming a More Effective Teacher

1. **Continually examine your instructional practices.**

2. **Communicate a sense of urgency.**  
   Cut out unproductive activities. Keep expectations high, monitor progress closely, and give students the supports they need before they fail.

3. **Communicate high expectations while recognizing student needs.**  
   Communicate that you believe they can succeed, and differentiate instruction to meet individual needs.

4. **Recognize the positive intent behind challenging behavior.**  
   Engage your students in the classroom community by giving them jobs and roles and providing them with multiple opportunities to interact with peers as they learn.

5. **Redirect students to more appropriate ways to reach their goals.**

6. **Keep increasing your knowledge.**  
   Adopt a “lifelong learner” mindset. The more you know, the more your students will benefit.

7. **Focus on the 3 Cs—**  
   Caring, Creative, and Courageous.

8. **Tell your students why they should learn what you’re teaching.**  
   Answer the question: what’s in it for me?

9. **When you feel like screaming at a noisy class, whisper.**  
   Students will have to quiet down to hear what you’re saying.

10. **Consider doing the opposite of what you feel like doing.**

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Adapted from Fundamentals of Literacy Instruction & Assessment, Pre-K–6, Second Edition edited by Martha C. Hougen, Ph.D. & Susan M. Smartt, Ph.D. ©2020, Paul H. Brookes Publishing Co., Inc. All rights reserved.