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2022 / 2023 School of Education
Planning and preparation
Domain 1
1A
Name
Demonstrating [Applying] Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy
Description
In order to guide student learning, teachers must have command of the subjects they teach. They must know which concepts and skills are central to a discipline and which are peripheral; they must know how the discipline has evolved into the 21st century, incorporating issues such as global awareness and cultural diversity. Accomplished teachers understand the internal relationships within the disciplines they teach, knowing which concepts and skills are prerequisite to the understanding of others. They are also aware of typical student misconceptions in the discipline and work to dispel them. But knowledge of the content is not sufficient; in advancing student understanding, teachers must be familiar with the particularly pedagogical approaches best suited to each discipline.The elements of component
Indicators include
• Lesson and unit plans that reflect important concepts in the discipline
• Lesson and unit plans that accommodate prerequisite relationships among concepts
and skills
• Clear and accurate classroom explanations
• Accurate answers to students’ questions
• Feedback to students that furthers learning
• Interdisciplinary connections in plans and practice
1B
Name
Demonstrating Knowledge of Students [Knowing and Valuing Students]
Description
Teachers don’t teach content in the abstract; they teach it to students. In order to ensure student learning, therefore, teachers must know not only their content and its related pedagogy but also the students to whom they wish to teach that content. In ensuring student learning, teachers must appreciate what recent research in cognitive psychology has confirmed, namely, that students learn through active intellectual engagement with content. While there are patterns in cognitive, social, and emotional developmental stages typical of different age groups, students learn in their individual ways and may have gaps or misconceptions that the teacher needs to uncover in order to plan appropriate learning activities. In addition, students have lives beyond school—lives that include athletic and musical pursuits, activities in their neighborhoods, and family and cultural traditions. Students whose first language is not English, as well as students with other special needs, must be considered when a teacher is planning lessons and identifying resources to ensure that all students will be able to learn.The elements of component
Indicators include
• Formal and informal information about students gathered by the teacher for use
in planning instruction
• Student interests and needs learned by the teacher for use in planning
• Teacher participation in community cultural events
• Teacher-designed opportunities for families to share their heritages
• Database of students with special needs
1C
Name
Setting Instructional Outcomes [Citing Standards/Unpacking Standards]
Description
Teaching is a purposeful activity; even the most imaginative activities are directed toward certain desired learning. Therefore, establishing instructional outcomes entails identifying exactly what students will be expected to learn; the outcomes describe not what students will do, but what they will learn. The instructional outcomes should reflect important learning and must lend themselves to various forms of assessment through which all students will be able to demonstrate their understanding of the content. Insofar as the outcomes determine the instructional activities, the resources used, their suitability for diverse learners, and the methods of assessment employed, they hold a central place in domain 1. Learning outcomes may be of a number of different types: factual and procedural knowledge, conceptual understanding, thinking and reasoning skills, and collaborative and communication strategies. In addition, some learning outcomes refer to dispositions; it’s important not only that students learn to read but also, educators hope, that they will like to read. In addition, experienced teachers are able to link their learning outcomes with outcomes both within their discipline and in other disciplines.The elements of component
Indicators include
• Outcomes of a challenging cognitive level
• Statements of student learning, not student activity
• Outcomes central to the discipline and related to those in other disciplines
• Outcomes permitting assessment of student attainment
• Outcomes differentiated for students of varied ability
1D
Name
Demonstrating Knowledge of Resources [Using Resources Effectively]
Description
Student learning is enhanced by a teacher’s skillful use of resources. Some of these are provided by the school as “official” materials; others are secured by teachers through their own initiative. Resources fall into several different categories: those used in the classroom by students, those available beyond the classroom walls to enhance student learning, resources for teachers to further their own professional knowledge and skill, and resources that can provide non instructional assistance to students. Teachers recognize the importance of discretion in the selection of resources, selecting those that align directly with the learning outcomes and will be of most use to the students. Accomplished teachers also ensure that the selection of materials and resources is appropriately challenging for every student; texts, for example, are available at various reading levels to make sure all students can gain full access to the content and successfully demonstrate understanding of the learning outcomes. Furthermore, expert teachers look beyond the school for resources to bring their subjects to life and to assist students who need help in both their academic and nonacademic lives.The elements of component
Indicators include
• Materials provided by the district
• Materials provided by professional organizations
• A range of texts
• Internet resources
• Community resources
• Ongoing participation by the teacher in professional education courses
or professional groups
• Guest speakers
1E
Name
Designing [Planning] Coherent Instruction
Description
Designing coherent instruction is the heart of planning, reflecting the teacher’s knowledge of content and of the students in the class, the intended outcomes of instruction, and the available resources. Such planning requires that educators have a clear understanding of the state, district, and school expectations for student learning and the skill to translate these into a coherent plan. It also requires that teachers understand the characteristics of the students they teach and the active nature of student learning. Educators must determine how best to sequence instruction in a way that will advance student learning through the required content. Furthermore, such planning requires the thoughtful construction of lessons that contain cognitively engaging learning activities, the incorporation of appropriate resources and materials, and the intentional grouping of students. Proficient practice in this component recognizes that a well-designed instruction plan addresses the learning needs of various groups of students; one size does not fit all. At the distinguished level, the teacher plans instruction that takes into account the specific learning needs of each student and solicits ideas from students on how best to structure the learning. This plan is then implemented in domain 3.The elements of component
Indicators include
• Lessons that support instructional outcomes and reflect important concepts
• Instructional maps that indicate relationships to prior learning
• Activities that represent high-level thinking
• Opportunities for student choice
• Use of varied resources
• Thoughtfully planned learning groups
• Structured lesson plans
1F
Name
Designing student assignments Description
Good teaching requires both assessment of learning and assessment for learning. Assessments of learning ensure that teachers know that students have learned the intended outcomes. These assessments must be designed in such a manner that they provide evidence of the full range of learning outcomes; that is, the methods needed to assess reasoning skills are different from those for factual knowledge. Furthermore, such assessments may need to be adapted to the particular needs of individual students; an ESL student, for example, may need an alternative method of assessment to allow demonstration of understanding. Assessment for learning enables a teacher to incorporate assessments directly into the instructional process and to modify or adapt instruction as needed to ensure student understanding. Such assessments, although used during instruction, must be designed as part of the planning process. These formative assessment strategies are ongoing and may be used by both teachers and students to monitor progress toward understanding the learning outcomes.The elements of component
Indicators include
• Lesson plans indicating correspondence between assessments and instructional
outcomes
• Assessment types suitable to the style of outcome
• Variety of performance opportunities for students
• Modified assessments available for individual students as needed
• Expectations clearly written with descriptors for each level of performance
• Formative assessments designed to inform minute-to-minute decision making by the
teacher during instruction
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