Another approach to developing a theory of teaching is to derive teaching principles from
studies of the practices of effective teachers. This involves identifying effective teachers
and then studying their teaching practices. Effective teachers are typically defined as those
whose students perform better on standardized achievement tests.
In a study of effective teachers in bilingual education programs in California andHawaii,
for example, Tikunoff (1985) observed teachers to find out how they organize instruction,
structure teaching activities, and enhance student performance on tasks. Teachers were
interviewed to determine their instructional philosophies and goals, and the demands they
structured into class tasks. An analysis of the classroom data revealed that there was a clear
linkage between the following: