“If you improve a teacher’s self-esteem, confidence, communication skills or stress levels, you improve that teacher’s overall effectiveness across the curriculum.” At least that’s what environmentalist Elaine MacDonald said. If you agree, you’ll love this edition of The Chariot Report, delivering essential information and insights for tutors and test prep professionals every other Tuesday.
EFFECTIVENESS AS A TEACHER
Individual teacher effectiveness in formal educational settings has always been difficult to track, transform, or even define. One study tackled the challenge and came up with an interesting assertion: a teacher’s effects on student behavior are more predictive than their effects on test scores, and the teachers who are most successful in raising test scores are not the same teachers who are most successful in improving student non-cognitive skills. When you consider The Full Measure of a Teacher, where do you see yourself?
EFFECTIVENESS AS A BUSINESS PERSON
If you’re in the business of education, you should always be planning for the future of your enterprise, no matter how big or small that concern may be. Most of us have, in our professional lives, fallen prey to the sunk cost fallacy. A sunk cost is a cost that has already been incurred and cannot be recovered. To understand how sunk costs can negatively influence business decisions, explore 2 Questions to stop you from throwing good money after bad.
EFFECTIVENESS DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON
The month following the December SAT & ACT has always been a relaxing period for me. After all, very few students cared about the January SAT when that date was around, and New York state didn’t even allow the February ACT. Now that the Empire State has joined the rest of the Union in that regard, my test prep business requires more than just a fun holiday party for my teachers. Fortunately, Matt McCorkle recently shared 5 Ways to Keep Test Prep on Track during the Holidays.
WHAT IF YOU ARE TOO EFFECTIVE?
Once you’ve gotten a handle on achieving effectiveness as both a teacher and a business person, you’re likely to arrive (if you haven’t already) at an interesting juncture marked by too much of a good thing. When interest in your services exceeds your ability to meet that interest, turn to these tips for Managing Excess Student Demand.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS
Did you find this edition of The Chariot Report worth your time? Let us know, and be sure to share other topics you’d like to see covered and links you’d like to be shared. If you’re not already a subscriber, sign up to receive The Chariot Report in your inbox. See you in two weeks!
