Introduction“Who can, does. Those who don't know, teach." This simple proverb from George Bernard Shaw's “Man and the Superman” is often cited in modern times, denigrating the hard work of teachers from preparatory grades up to the highest academic institutions. While it is true that almost anyone can teach in the true sense of the word, being an effective teacher is a much more difficult task. A truly effective teacher has a broad range of pedagogical skills, along with knowledge of when to apply them, an awareness of their students' needs and abilities, and an understanding of the curriculum and its objectives. This essay will examine some of the critical prerequisites of an effective teacher. Student Foundations The foundation of effective teaching comes from understanding the “Aspects of a Student” (Whitton, Barker, Nosworthy, Sinclair, Nanlohy, 2010 p.108) how these external factors play an important role in how a student learns . When planning an effective lesson, the content cannot be considered in isolation from an academic perspective. Interpretation and implementation of the curriculum must take into account the unique combination of the classroom: age, gender, socioeconomic climate, cultural/religious beliefs and ideals. The teacher must also consider the overall student body regarding the number of students, their learning styles, and their abilities. Lyons refers to this as the “Ecological Perspective… to remind us that when dealing with children, the individual with his immediate environment is also influenced by a larger and more complex environment” (Lyons, 2011 p.41 ). recognizing critical aspects can lead a student to have a net negative outcome from a lesson. An example... at the center of the paper... are used towards the end of each activity, to help relate the activity to the student's daily experiences and for constructivism and social scaffolding. Conclusion As outlined in this essay, there are a variety of skill sets that help make a teacher more effective. Each skill alone provides new value to each lesson, but it is when these skills combine in a lesson that a teacher becomes truly effective and rises above those who meet the more literal definitions of a teacher. Works Cited Colburn, A. (2000) . Constructivism: science education "grand unified theory". The Clearing House, 74(1), 9-12. http://search.proquest.com/docview/196881181?accountid=10382Davies, P. (producer) and Whitehouse, K. (presenter). (2012). Knowledge and understanding of the world [Video file]. Retrieved from: http://www.schoolsworld.tv/node/2065?terms=644