A Comparative Study of the Educational Practices and Competencies of Teachers in the United States and Guatemala in Teaching Reading
Teaching effectively is a concept that is difficult, if not controversial to define and equally difficult to measure. To most educational planners, ‘effectiveness’ is the measure of factors that enhance a child’s learning, irrespective of their background (Moore, DeStafano & Adelman, 2010). While many models of school effectiveness exist, the Five-Factor model suggests that leadership, acquisition of basic skills, a secure environment, high student expectations, and frequent performance assessment are critical elements of effectiveness (Scheerens, 2000). The United States generally has these five factors, however only the element of high student expectations customarily exists in Guatemala.
