Teaching falls somewhere between an art and a science, and effective educators use their intuition along with proven teaching methods to transfer knowledge to their students . Some paradigms are present in an effective teaching methodology that allows you to acquire and ascertain the skills and strategies necessary to become a successful teacher. However, some techniques and methods can only be acquired through experience and require teachers to use their instincts to adapt and adapt accordingly to meet the needs of their students. Therefore, educators must be aware of both aspects that constitute the continuum of teaching, teaching as an art and teaching as a science. Effective teachers must be competent in their subject area and have extensive knowledge of pedagogical issues. Mastery of content is of the utmost importance so that teachers can effectively articulate the objectives of various lessons. Teachers should have extensive knowledge regarding how students best ascertain new information. Additionally, teachers need to be aware of all the resources available to them that will enhance their students' learning experiences. Teachers should strive to create an environment that promotes positive student learning outcomes. The ideal classroom environment should address respect, rapport, a meaningful learning experience, and opportunities for each student to succeed. Above all, teachers must have in their repertoire the ability to instill in students a love of learning. There are certain standards by which teachers should be judged on their aptitude for the teaching profession. The most important thing is that teachers are pleasant and have the ability to build rapport with... middle of paper... I: Evaluations of subject matter and pedagogy. I believe it is essential that teachers are held accountable and required to pass the Praxis II assessment. Qualified teachers are a must in classrooms across the country. Lowering standards and expectations for teachers would certainly lead to a significant decline in overall student achievement. Accordingly, teacher licensing should adhere to high standards and expectations so that student learning can be improved. I believe corporal punishment is an obsolete disciplinary method. In Kentucky, it is not against state law to apply corporal punishment, however the issue is delegated to counties or school districts. There are other effective means by which to discipline students. More importantly, teachers should use effective classroom management to gain compliance from their students.