An effective teacher knows more than the content of her subject; she also knows different ways of teaching the subject to students, each of whom has a different way of learning. Being able to assess and understand the unique learning styles of her students means the teacher can alter and adjust her teaching to meet each student's needs. An effective teacher teaches a class of separate students, and keeps in mind individual learning requirements, and individual achievement.
The focus of an effective teacher is on successful learning. The achievement of her students is measurable in terms of how much and how well they have learned. It is not simply a matter of teaching a subject but of teaching a skill. If a teacher can teach a student the skill of analysis, writing, dissemination or effective dialogue, then her student will learn how to write more effectively and expressively, and the results of tests will show her improvement.
The success of a teacher can be seen in the personality and attitude of her students. The student who has confidence and self-belief and who knows that he "can do it" based on being told that he can by a teacher will work harder and have a more positive attitude than a student who has been told that achievement is impossible for him, that he is weak or lacking. An effective teacher teaches her student to take pride in his achievements. The effect of this kind of teaching is the holistic development of a student's personality.
An effective teacher enables the student to stretch and extend his learning and achievement beyond the syllabus and curriculum. She inspires the student to search for and acquire knowledge beyond that which is given in textbooks or that prescribed for class. The student will re-evaluate the very idea of "achievement," measuring success not in terms of his grades but in terms of the love of learning he acquires. The effective teacher unlocks the doors of a student's imagination.