Principal Kafele's 50 "I's" For Effective Teaching
Copyright © 2006 by Baruti K. Kafele
Principal Kafele Commentary - As a classroom teacher, you have chosen the
most important profession of all professions. You have chosen to take on the
responsibility of preparing young people for future success. As a teacher of
African American and Latino children, you have an enormous responsibility
indeed, predicated upon current national achievement, suspension, drop-out
and arrest data. In other words, the future of African American and Latino
children rests squarely on your shoulders. You must therefore be up for the
challenge, while possessing the requisite knowledge, information, skills,
practices and characteristics that increase the probability for African
American and Latino student success. Research data shows that two
consecutive years of poor teaching can damage a child for life. Our children
can ill-afford even one day of poor teaching! To that end, I developed the
following list of affirmations in an effort to increase the probability that
African American and Latino children are exposed to classroom teachers that
meet the criteria for mastery in teaching. It is my contention that if these
affirmations are reviewed, studied, internalized and implemented in earnest
on a regular, continual and daily basis, the probability for African American
and Latino student success will increase exponentially.
1. I am knowledgeable of and have an appreciation and respect for the
history and culture of my students.
2. I utilize a culturally responsive approach to instruction.
3. I have a definite purpose for teaching.
4. I treat teaching not as a job, profession or career but as a mission.
5. I have a vision for what I expect my students to achieve.
6. I see myself as the number one determinant of the success or failure
of my students.
7. I see myself as a role model and therefore always conduct myself as a
professional.
8. I conduct daily self-reflections and self-assessments.
9. I strive to motivate, educate and empower my students daily.
10.I have high expectations and standards for all of my students and
believe that they will reach them.
11.I instill in my students a sense of purpose for their education daily.
12.I hold my students accountable for setting academic goals and
developing strategies for achieving them.
13.I consistently teach with energy, enthusiasm, passion and optimism.
14.I have an unequivocal commitment to my students’ academic growth
and development.
15.I am an expert in the content area(s) I teach.
16.I utilize a student-centered approach to instruction.
17.I differentiate my instruction based upon the different learning styles
and ability levels of my students.
18.I utilize a variety of instructional approaches for the benefit of my
students.
19.I utilize an interdisciplinary approach to instruction.
20.I incorporate technology into my instruction regularly.
21.I am knowledgeable of brain theory and how the brain processes
information.
22.I am knowledgeable of child development theory.
23.I plan systematically for each day, week, month and school year.
24.I utilize achievement data to develop my lessons regularly.
25.I am consistently highly organized.
26.I have a classroom environment that is conducive to learning.
27.I am a superb classroom manager.
28.I have a love, appreciation and respect for my students.
29.I have an appreciation and respect for the community in which my
students reside.
30.I do not fear my students, their parents, nor the community in which
they reside.
31.I treat all of my students equally and fairly.
32.I know all of my students beyond the academic side.
33.I attend student functions beyond the ones I organize.
34.I eat lunch with my students.
35.I teach students - not subjects.
36.I make learning fun, stimulating and engaging.
37.I teach and encourage critical thinking regularly.
38.I refuse to accept failure or to allow failure to occur in my classroom.
39.I refuse to make excuses for any failure my students may experience.
40.I accept responsibility and accountability for student success and
failure.
41.I do not use the race and socioeconomic status of my students as an
excuse.
42.I am a life-long learner while always striving to become a better
teacher.
43.I participate in ongoing professional development.
44.I have a collegial relationship with my colleagues.
45.I accept constructive feedback from my colleagues and administrators.
46.I act upon suggestions from my colleagues and administrators for
improvement.
47.I see myself as an integral part of a team; not an island by myself.
48.I maximize parental involvement through developing strong bonds
with all of my parents.
49.I notify parents for both problems and successes.
50.I visit the homes of my students.