Effective Teaching Practices: Effective Teaching Practices that Promote a Positive Classroom Environment

W ho is the most effective teacher you know? Take a moment to reflect on teachers you had when you were a student, have worked with, or have observed. Now, consider what makes (or made) that teacher effective. Although your answer may include both observable behaviors and other less tangible qualities, there is often a salient group of practices that makes a skilled teacher stand out. Effective teaching is both an art and a science. Successful teachers expertly weave together academic, behavioral, and social threads to achieve a unique classroom tapestry. Undoubtedly, one article cannot begin to cover all of the nuanced skills essential to creating an ideal classroom environment. However, research, practice, and experience have identified critical effective teaching practices when working with all students, including those with challenging behaviors. In this article, we present a framework for organizing concrete effective teaching practices and highlight specific strategies educators can use to establish and promote a positive classroom environment. In particular, we focus on three key areas of effective teaching: (a) delivering explicit and engaging academic instruction, (b) implementing empirically supported classroom management strategies, and (c) building relationships with students and their families. To assist teachers in the integration of effective teaching strategies, we (a) describe each of the three key areas of effective teaching, (b) suggest strategies to integrate these practices into teaching, and (c) provide helpful resources to support practitioners. Framework for Organizing Effective Class-Wide Teaching Practices