Effective teachers see lessons from students' perspective

Effective teachers make their lessons meaningful and interesting by being aware of their students' point of view, writes Elizabeth Stein, a New York special-education teacher who is pursuing National Board Certification. To draw students into classroom lessons, Stein says, teachers should make the topic come alive, make lessons personal for students, connect lessons to real-life themes, engage students and provide them with individual feedback on their progress. Teacher Magazine (free registration)