What are the fundamental principles of effective teaching?
Back to Basics: The Fundamentals of Great Teaching
Walk through any school and you’ll see a variety of teaching styles, animated voices, quiet focus, small group conversations, hands-on projects, and occasionally… controlled chaos. And yet, when people talk about what makes a teacher “great,” the conversation too often centers on personality, not practice.
The reality? Great teaching is not about being loud, extroverted, or “performative.” It’s about consistently applying foundational practices that drive student learning, connection, and growth.
This post goes back to basics: the core principles of effective teaching, the misconceptions that distract from them, and the overlooked truth that great teaching wears many faces, and many volumes.
What Does “Great Teaching” Really Mean?
Let’s define it simply: Great teaching is instruction that leads to meaningful, measurable, and equitable student learning.
It’s not about entertainment.
It’s not about charisma.
It’s not about who “owns the room.”
Effective teaching is about:
Clear goals
Strong relationships
Active learning
Responsive feedback
Inclusive practices
High expectations for all students
Great teachers don’t just “cover” content - they uncover meaning, build skills, and ignite curiosity.
The Charisma Trap: Why Personality Isn’t the Same as Pedagogy
One of the biggest misconceptions in schools, especially among leadership, is that the most dynamic teachers are the most effective.
It’s easy to see why:
Extroverted teachers often have visibly energetic classrooms
They engage quickly in staff meetings or hallway conversations
Their students may seem more excited or “on task”
And because many school leaders are extroverted themselves, these teachers often get:
More frequent shout-outs
More invitations to pilot programs or lead PD
Faster promotion into leadership roles
But here’s the truth:
Charisma ≠ Instructional Effectiveness
Some of the best teachers:
Speak softly but plan powerfully
Run calm, structured classrooms with deep intellectual rigor
Aren’t flashy, but are deeply consistent, student-centered, and reflective
They may not get the spotlight, but they make a long-term impact.
Instructional leadership must go beyond optics. It must recognize substance.
The Fundamentals of Great Teaching: What Truly Matters
These are the core principles of effective instruction, independent of grade level, content area, or personality type.
1. Clarity of Purpose
Students must know what they’re learning, why it matters, and how they’ll succeed.
Learning objectives are visible and revisited
Tasks align with goals, not just activities for activity’s sake
Students can articulate what success looks like
Clear teaching = clear thinking = clearer learning.
2. Student Engagement (That Goes Beyond Participation)
Real engagement means students are thinking, doing, connecting, not just sitting quietly or answering questions.
Lessons include discussion, exploration, and application
Students work collaboratively and reflectively
Tasks are relevant and cognitively rich
Engagement is not compliance. It’s cognitive investment.
3. Strong Relationships and Psychological Safety
Great teachers build classrooms where students feel seen, respected, and safe to take risks.
Students are greeted, valued, and included
Mistakes are normalized as part of learning
Positive behavior is reinforced with consistency and care
Relationships are the soil in which academic growth takes root.
4. Differentiation and Responsiveness
Effective teaching meets students where they are - and nudges them forward.
Instruction is adjusted based on readiness, interest, or need
Small group support, scaffolds, and flexible tasks are built in
Data is used to guide, not punish, practice
One-size-fits-all instruction fits no one well.
5. High Expectations with High Support
Students rise to the level of challenge they’re supported to meet.
Rigor is embedded, not watered down
Teachers model thinking and strategies, not just answers
Struggling students are supported, not labeled
Equity means giving every learner what they need to thrive, not just what’s easiest to deliver.
6. Consistent, Actionable Feedback
Great teaching doesn’t wait for the test to assess learning.
Students get feedback often, and they use it to improve
Rubrics, success criteria, and exemplars clarify expectations
Peer and self-assessment deepen reflection and ownership
Feedback is the bridge between instruction and growth.
7. Reflective Practice and Professional Growth
Effective teachers reflect, adjust, and keep learning.
They ask: What worked? What didn’t? Who didn’t get it and why?
They collaborate, research, and try new approaches
They seek feedback, even when it’s uncomfortable
The best teachers are learners, too.
A nod to timeless teaching essentials that form the foundation of great instruction
What School Leaders Often Miss
It’s no secret: educational leadership often favors visibility.
But here’s what gets missed when we confuse personality with impact:
Often Rewarded: High energy | Often Overlooked: Deep structure
Often Rewarded: Big classroom displays | Often Overlooked: Purposeful pacing
Often Rewarded: Loud group work | Often Overlooked: Quiet academic conversations
Often Rewarded: Teacher-led discussion | Often Overlooked: Student-led inquiry
Often Rewarded: High participation | Often Overlooked: High-level thinking
Look beyond what’s loudest. Look for what’s lasting.
What Great Teaching Looks Like Across Different Styles
Teacher Style: Extroverted & energetic | What Great Teaching Looks Like: Dynamic discussions, visible excitement, strong classroom culture
Teacher Style: Calm & methodical | What Great Teaching Looks Like: Structured routines, rich questioning, deep individual feedback
Teacher Style: Playful & creative | What Great Teaching Looks Like: Innovative lessons, strong connections, project-based learning
Teacher Style: Analytical & precise | What Great Teaching Looks Like: Data-driven instruction, clear models, reflective adjustments
There is no single mold for greatness. There are only consistent, student-centered practices.
Final Thoughts: Don’t Mistake Volume for Value
Great teaching isn’t always flashy. It isn’t always loud. It isn’t always the person getting the most praise in faculty meetings.
It’s the teacher whose students:
Think harder
Feel safer
Grow steadily
Believe in themselves
Remember what they learned and who taught it to them
Whether your delivery is quiet or energetic, traditional or tech-forward, the fundamentals matter more than the flair. In the end, great teaching isn’t about how you perform. It’s about how your students transform.
Ready to put this into practice?
Check out Differentiated Instruction Toolkit — practical strategies for tailoring instruction to every learner. Also included in the Engaging Instruction Pack.
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