Effective Practice: Ten Standards

Interstate New Teacher Assessment and Support Consortium (INTASC) Model Standards for Beginning Teacher Licensing and Development:

1. Subject Matter
The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry and structures of the discipline(s) he or she teaches, and can create learning experiences that make these the aspects of subject matter meaningful for students.

2. Student Learning
The teacher understands how children and youth learn and develop and can provide learning opportunities that support intellectual, social and personal development.

3. Diverse Learners
The teacher understands how learners differ in their approaches to learning and creates instructional opportunities that are adapted to learners from diverse cultural backgrounds and with exceptionalities.

4. Instructional Strategies
The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage students’ development of critical thinking, problem solving and performance skills.

5. Learning Environment
The teacher uses an understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning and self-motivation.

6. Communication
The teacher uses knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration and supportive interaction in the classroom.

7. Planning Instruction
The teacher plans and manages instruction based upon knowledge of subject matter, students, the community and curriculum goals.

8. Assessment
The teacher understands and uses formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the continuous intellectual, social and physical development of his/her learners.

9. Reflection and Professional Development
The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of her/his choices and actions on others (students, parents and other professionals in the learning community) and who actively seek out opportunities to grow professionally.

10. Collaboration, Ethics, and Relationships
The teacher communicates and interacts with parents and guardians, families, school colleagues, and the community to support students’ learning and well-being. The teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents and agencies in the larger community to support students’ learning and well-being