What Great Teachers Do Differently

Recently, I found this and wanted to pass it on. This is not just for teachers. The principles may be applied in many of our endeavors. 

What Great Teachers Do Differently

Fourteen Things That Matter Most

by Todd Whitaker

1.     Great teachers never forget that it is people, not programs, that determine the quality of a school.

2.     Great teachers establish clear expectations at the start of the year and follow them consistently as the year progresses.

3.     When a student misbehaves, great teachers have one goal: to keep the behavior from happening again.

4.     Great teachers have high expectations for students but even higher expectations for themselves.

5.     Great teachers know who is the variable in the classroom: They are. Good teachers consistently strive to improve, and they focus on something they can control—their own performance.

6.     Great teachers create a positive atmosphere in their classrooms and schools. They treat every person with respect. In particular, they understand the power of praise.

7.     Great teachers consistently filter out the negatives that don’t matter and share a positive attitude.

8.     Great teachers work hard to keep their relationships in good repair—to avoid personal hurt and to repair any possible damage.

9.     Great teachers have the ability to ignore trivial disturbances and the ability to respond to inappropriate behavior without escalating the situation.

10. Great teachers have a plan and purpose for everything they do. If things don’t work out the way they had envisioned, they reflect on what they could have done differently and adjust their plans accordingly.

11. Before making any decision or attempting to bring about any change, great teachers ask themselves one central question: What will the best people think?

12. Great teachers continually ask themselves who is most comfortable and who is least comfortable with each decision they make. They treat everyone as if they were good.

13. Great teachers keep standardized testing in perspective; they center on the real issue of student learning.

14. Great teachers care about their students. They understand that behaviors and beliefs are tied to emotion, and they understand the power of emotion to jump-start change.

I would add "15. Great teachers understand the power of Gratitude to empower a positive classroom and help everyone progress through the school year with a smile."