Standard One: Subject Matter Knowledge

"Teachers shall udnerstand the central concepts, tools of inquiry, structures of the discipline, especially as they related to the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards (CCCS), and design developmentally appropiate learning experiences making the subject matter accessible and meaningful to all students."

One of the most important aspects in becoming a teacher is the understanding of content knowledge.  It is crucial that the teacher understand the material so he/she is able to present it to her students.  My lesson plans reflect all requirements of the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards.  I have created a lesson plan called, "The Study of Reptiles."  I have incorporated a Power Point presentation called "Learning about Reptiles."  This particular lesson is geared towards a third or fourth grade class. 

I feel it is important for teachers to know, understand, and explain their material clearly in that way the students will have a better idea in what the teacher expects.  Teachers need to help their students develop new skills and knowledge in every day life.  They need to help make sense of the world around us by incorporating reading materials, writing in journals, and speaking freely about subjects.  Teachers have to be enthusiastic in the discipline(s) they teach because it will help the students become more engaged in their activities.  Teachers have to incorporate the outside world, meaning the physical environment, reason, data, strategies, communication etc. in order for the students to make connections within the lessons they are taught.

Standard Two: Human Growth and Development

"Teachers shall understand how children and adolescents develop and learn in a variety of school, family and community contexts and provide opportunities that support their intellectural, social, emotional and physical development."

I believe it is very important for teachers to know their students and to know what to expect from a particular age group.  Teachers must be aware of their student's levels in order to understand their previous knowledge as well as what to expect in the future from them academically.

Teachers must learn and understand instructional strategies that will help them to incorporate learning within their classroom.  They must know their students' strengths and weaknesses.  Students bring strength to the classroom and teachers bring ability.  Teachers must take into account their students' prior learning experiences through community, family life, etc.  Teachers need to realize their students' individual experiences that they have accomplished.

Standard Three: Diverse Learners

"Teachers shall understand the practice of culturally responsive teaching"

I believe it is very necessary to have multicultural lessons within the classroom.  Students need to understand the cultures around them and I believe incorporating lessons based on different cultures will help enhance a student's learning.  Also, teachers need to realize that all students learn on different levels.  Some students are more advanced than others and I feel it is important to realize their strengths and weaknesses in order to accomodate to those students learning capabilities.

I feel it is important for all students to be aware of other races and other cultures surrounding them.  We all come from different backgrounds and social classes.  We learn from each other by being defined by our cultures.  It brings variety into the class and each student will realize they are unique.

Standard Four: Instructional Planning and Strategies

"Teachers shall understand instructional planning, desgin long - and short - term plans based upon knowledge of subject matter, students, community, and curriculum goals, and shall employ a variety of developmentally appropiate strategies in order to promote critical thinking, problem solving and the performance skills of all learners."

We are all different people and not everyone learns at the same pace or understands the same material.  It is the responsibility of the effective teacher to incorporate different intelligences when teaching a lesson.  Students should be viewing learning as fun and exciting.  They should want to be challenged.  I believe different problem solving techniques help students in a more visual manner and power point presentations are helpful when involving a visual side to a lesson.

Standard 5: Assessment

"Teachers shall understand and use multiple assessment stratgies and interpret results to evaluate and promote student leanring and to modify instruction in order to foster the continuous development of students."

Assessment is important to the effective teacher because it helps him/her to get an idea of who understands and who does not.  Different and creative assessment methods helps the effective teacher to really put together a satisfying lesson.  The assessments made by the teacher should match the objectives planned for the lesson.  It should entail the different tasks the students were suppose to complete and how effective their work was.  An example of an assessment are rubrics as well as homework assignments.  For some exceptions, assessments should be made that are fun and the students are not worrying about whether or not they did the assignment right. 

Standard 6: Learning Environment

"Teachers shall understand individual and group motivation and behavior and shall create a supportive, safe and respectful learning environment that encourages postive social interaction, active engagement in leanring and self-motivation."

One of the most important issues within the classroom is classroom management.  Classroom management is a part of an effective learning experience.  It teaches students to act responsibly within the class as well as how to properly behave in different types of situations.  It is crucial that a classroom have clear, established standards that will help their growth into young men and young women.  These standards should be based upon a discipline plan and should always be followed.  This plan will teach students self-motivation and to take responsibility for their actions.  I have put together a discipline plan for students to follow within the power point presentation for back to school night.

Standard Seven: Special Needs

"Teachers shall adapt and modify instruction to accommodate the special learning needs of all students."

The effective teacher will understand that some students require more attention than others.  The teacher will understand that they need to accomodate to these particular students' learning pace, to work and help the student be comfortable with their learning.  I had the opportunity to sit in on a special education classroom and all the students learned on different levels.  The teacher within that classroom gave each of her students their opportunity to learn and she adjusted to every single one of their learning strategies.  The special needs teacher must have patience and be understanding towards these types of students.

Standard Eight: Communication

"Teachers shall use knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal and written communication techniques and the tools of information literacy to foser the use of inquiry, collaboration and supportive interactions."

Parents always want to know how their children are doing in school and it up to the teacher to report the different activities and lessons he/she will be teaching that month.  It is very important to keep parents informed because it shows a relationship between parent and teacher.  This will enable the teacher and the parents to act together in helping their children strive to the best of their abilities.  To help keep parents informed I have created a back to school newsletter that will give parents an idea of what I expect in my classroom.  I have also created a powerpoint presentation introducing myself to the students as wa way for them to get to know me as well as to relay information to their parents.

Standard Nine: Collaboration and Partnership

"Teachers shall build relationships with parents, guardians, families and agencies in the larger community to support students' learning and well-being."

Teachers and parents have the responsibility to make sure children are learning within the school system.  It is like a chain, the information goes to the teacher to the student to the parent.  It is imperative that teachers and parents communicate and help one another in order to understand where a child's strengths and weaknesses exist.  It is important for the student to tell his/her parent what happened in school and it is important for the parent and the teacher to be able to work together in situations where a student may be a problem.  I have made a homework memo for parents to explain to their children their assignments and to keep their learning going at home.

Standard Ten: Professional Development

"Teachers shall participate as active, responsible members of the professional community, engaging in a wide range of reflective practices, pursuing opportunities to grow professionally and establishing collegial relationships to enhance the teaching and learning process."

Every day we learn something new and every day we teach something new.  I believe it is important for teachers, educators, administration, etc. to take part in different workshops that will broaden their horizons in the world around them and the changes that are going on within the educational world.  For example, incorporating technology by using games, computers, etc. has become a major part of education.  It is essential that all educators and students learn how to use these different technologies and how be able to use them within their own experiences.  Both parties need to be able to integrate different technologies within the classroom.  By teaching something new we are learning from each other.