The
Pacific Standards for Excellence in Teaching, in Assessment and in Professional
Development, describes regional goals for teaching, assessment and
professional development. The mathematics and science standards will be
worthwhile only if they are implemented and lead to improved interaction
between teachers and students and enhanced student learning. Achieving
the standards described in this document will enable the successful implementation
of the "content" standards and provide students with opportunities
to achieve literacy.
The development of the teaching, assessment, and professional development standards was based upon six characteristics that highly effective mathematics and science teachers have in common:
Effective teachers are committed to students and their learning. They believe that all students can learn, and they treat all students equitably while recognizing individual differences. They make an effort to be aware of the students' interests, abilities, skills, knowledge, culture, and experiences in and outside of school. They develop students' intellectual capacity and their respect for learning. They foster students' self-esteem, character, and civic responsibility while respecting cultural, religious, and ethnic differences.
Effective teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to students. They have a rich knowledge of mathematics and science and appreciate how knowledge is gained, organized, linked to other disciplines, and applied in settings familiar to their students. They develop the critical and analytical capacities of their students. They have a deep understanding of how to teach. They incorporate the prevailing theories of learning and intelligence in their practice. They are aware of the ideas that students bring to the classroom and of strategies and instructional materials that can be effective in teaching. They understand where difficulties are likely to arise and are prepared to modify instruction accordingly. Their understanding of teaching allows them to create multiple paths for students to achieve an understanding of mathematics and science.
Effective teachers are accomplished at creating learning environments that engage students and others in the learning process. They create, maintain, and enrich instructional settings to capture and sustain their students' interest. They understand the appropriate use of a range of instructional strategies and can implement them as needed. They make effective use of instructional time. They engage individuals and groups of students to ensure a safe, nurturing learning environment. They understand how to motivate students to learn and how to maintain their interest even in the face of temporary failure. They are eager to involve students, community members, and colleagues to complement their instruction.
Effective teachers use a variety of methods to assess both individual and group progress. They use multiple methods for measuring student growth and understanding and enable their students to demonstrate their learning in a variety of ways. They use assessment as a communication system and self-assessment is encouraged. They can clearly explain student performance to parents. They enrich and adjust their instruction to meet individual and group needs.
Effective teachers reflect on their teaching and learn from experience. They are models of educated persons. They have the ability to reason and see multiple perspectives, to be creative and take risks, and demonstrate an experimental and problem-solving orientation. They use their knowledge of human development, subject matter, and instruction and their knowledge of their students to make decisions about their teaching. They adjust their teaching based on observation and knowledge of their students. They examine their teaching, seek to expand their skills, deepen their knowledge, and adapt their teaching to new findings, ideas, and theories.
Effective teachers are active members of learning communities. They contribute to the effectiveness of the school by working collaboratively with others on instructional policy, curriculum development, and staff development. They are knowledgeable about specialized school and community resources that can enhance the learning experiences of their students and are skilled at employing such resources. They find ways to work with parents, engaging them productively in the work of education.
The Teaching and the Assessment Standards provide further guidance to teachers seeking to achieve this level of effectiveness. The professional development standards provide criteria for designing and evaluating pre and inservice programs for mathematics and science educators in the region.