“Strong teachers insist that effective teaching is neither mysterious or magical.” -S. Farr

What is it that makes a teacher strong, vital, and exceptional? What is it that separates the good teachers from the master teachers? Farr and his colleagues found certain patterns in the teachers they observed:

*Tended to set big goals for their students.

*Perpetually looked for ways to improve their effectiveness.

*Constantly reevaluated what they were doing.

*Avidly recruited students and their families into the process.

*Maintained focus ensuring that everything they did contributed to student learning.

*Planned exhaustively and purposefully by working backward from the desired goals.

*Worked relentlessly, refusing to surrender to the combined menaces of poverty, bureaucracy, and budgetary shortfalls.

[http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/201001/good-teaching]

This past week I had the honor and privilege of working with some exceptional teachers in Brooks County, Texas. From the moment I walked in the door the teachers exhibited exceptional patterns. They are teachers in a primary school–not “state-tested grades.” Yet, they brought me in to help them improve their effectiveness because they felt they could do better in their teaching of mathematics. They had heard about Tabor Rotation from their principal, their regional supporting consultant, and other schools in the area. They were already implementing the structure but knew they could do better if they just had some intense, on-site training.

These teachers were receptive to the information shared, observed closely during the demonstration lesson, asked purposeful questions, and were relentless in their desire to understand how Tabor Rotation could help them better differentiate instruction for their students.

These teachers also persevered–even on their day off. The second day of training occurred on Saturday. Every participant showed up early, with a smile. They spent the day planning exhaustively and purposefully.  Not one teacher looked at the clock–even when we went past the end time. They didn’t want to stop until they had planned for the entire upcoming 6 weeks. This is evidence of exceptional teaching!

“Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverence.” -Samuel Johnson

“I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.” -Wayne Gretzky

Are you persevering? Are you continuing on your journey to become and remain exceptional?