This doctoral thesis is teaching exercise the object of study in regular high school that serves popular sectors, seeking to identify the specifics that drive teaching and make their views on their profession and this educational segment. The research develops into a high school public school located in the Baixada Fluminense and considered prestigious in the region. Methodological, pedagogical practices of a group of teachers nominated by their own students as good teachers are observed in order to identify the characteristics of their performance and skills that foster the learning of popular class youth. In addition, it uses questionnaires given to students and teachers, interviews with the nominees teachers, managers and coordinators. context of teaching in the school investigated is constructed from the survey of socio-economic profile of the region and of the students, the characterization of the school system and performance data via the external evaluations students. Analyses and interpretations were based on theoretical dialogue with the sociological studies Dubet, studies on education and teaching profession of Formosinho, Tardif, Nóvoa, the Didactic studies on Candau and competence to teach Perrenoud. quantitative data and teacher performance indicators are associated produced by large-scale research on school effectiveness and effect-teacher (BROOKE and SOARES, BRESSOUX, OECD, WORLD BANK). Throughout the investigation, it could be seen that there are teachers performing successful practices in high schools and being recognized by the institution in which they work, and especially by his students as teachers that make a difference. The motivational and relational dimensions stood out as the guiding elements of successful teaching activity in high school, centralizing the role of teachers as builders direction and professional relationship. Are teachers who construct their own ways of dealing with the reality of high school designed the popular classes. The idea that investment is reinforced in collective work, reflective practice, joint participation and involvement, combined with follow-up strategies of teaching can be recognized as strategies for the professional development of teachers and improvements in student outcomes in high school. It is concluded that the extension of the conceptions of what constitutes a good teacher high school can contribute both in the establishment of policies to foster the development of the teaching career, as own initial training and continuing of specialist teachers.