TELLTALE SIGN OF CALIBER TEACHERS: SURFEIT OF BRILLIANCE IN TEACHING ELEMENTARY LEARNERS

Abstract

The teacher is the main actor in the learning process. It is teachers who consider effective learning strategies to be applied. A large number of variations in the quality of teaching are explained by the characteristics of teachers, teachers are central in the process teaching and learning, teachers have a major role in building student personality, teachers are learning managers in a large system of education that enlightens students. This study will lend to the body of knowledge surrounding teacher effectiveness. It is also significant in that it is transferable to a greater population of teachers in kindergarten through sixth grade and therefore may have implications for understanding and improving teacher effectiveness in the greater education population. The researcher made these qualitative assumptions that consist of the methods used in the process of qualitative research (Creswell 2003). The procedures used by the researcher are inductive and are based on the researchers own experience in collecting and analyzing data. The research here is the product of the values of the researcher. The implication for positive social change of this qualitative phenomenological research study was guided by four research questions. Despite the limitations, after the review and ensuing analysis of interview transcripts and observation notes the researcher was able to gain insight into the phenomenon of characteristics of high-quality teachers. It was found that high-quality teachers use a variety of strategies that are carefully chosen based on student needs, student learning styles, and student abilities to meet the needs of diverse learners. Higher-order questioning was identified as a prevalent teaching strategy used in the classrooms of high-quality teachers which resulted in a high level of classroom discussion. A high level of student engagement was also prevalent in the classrooms of high-quality teachers. A quantitative study could be conducted to further investigate the relationship between high-quality teachers and their impact on student achievement about GPA and scores on state standardized tests. A qualitative study could be conducted to determine strategies for facilitating the development and growth of the identified characteristics of high-quality teaching to improve teaching quality KEYWORDS: Telltale Sign, Caliber Teachers, Surfeit of Brilliance, Teaching Elementary Learners