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subjects. an effective teacher will take pupils' learning preferences into consideration in their planning.

Attempts today are made to measure the performance management of a teacher through data analysis of the attainment of pupils taught. One of the main criticisms of doing this is that pupils do not always develop in a linear way and the true benefits of effective learning lie beyond tests and examinations.

Some people argue that effective teachers are born not made. There is a belief that teaching is a vocation, a "calling" rather than just a job. There is no doubt that teaching is quite different to other jobs, not least because there is no other profession where a person is given responsibility for more than twenty other individual human beings at a time. Young people are not manufactured products, they are human beings who deserve a good education. Most teachers enter the profession because they have a love of their subject and a wish to impart it to others, making a difference in young lives. Sadly, teachers seldom know how truly effective their teaching efforts have been and, when they do, it may well be many years later when they get to hear of the success of a former pupil, and even then, at best, they have only been a part of that success.

Teaching can be the most rewarding experience in the world but for most of us the satisfaction lies in the day-to-day relationships with our pupils. Sadly, it must be said that, given the variety of challenges facing teachers in today's classrooms, many teachers feel that, despite their best efforts, effectiveness is compromised and unfair criticisms of capability abound.Perhaps the true test of a good teacher is merely being a reflective practitioner who asks themselves the question "What are the characteristics of a good teacher?" all too often and trying to improve their performance accordingly.

Learn more about this author, Catherine Morris.
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