Standard 3 - Understanding and Organizing Subject Matter for Student Learning

Teachers exhibit in-depth working knowledge of subject matter, academic content standards, and curriculum frameworks. They apply knowledge of student development and proficiencies to ensure student understanding of content. They organize curriculum to facilitate students' understanding of the subject matter. Teachers utilize instructional strategies that are appropriate to the subject matter. They use and adapt resources, technologies, and standards-aligned instructional materials, including adopted materials, to make subject matter accessible to all students. They address the needs of English learners and students with special needs to provide equitable access to the content.

3.1 Demonstrating knowledge of subject matter, academic content standards, and curriculum frameworks

As teachers develop, they may ask, “How do I…” or “Why do I…”

• ensure that my subject matter knowledge is sufficient to support student learning?
• continue to keep my subject matter knowledge current?
• identify, understand, and teach the key concepts and underlying themes and relationships in the academic content standards and state curriculum frameworks?
• integrate key concepts, themes, relationships, and connections across subject matter areas?
• ensure that my knowledge of the subject matter incorporates different perspectives, appropriate to the discipline?
• maintain and utilize current understanding of relevant content standards and frameworks?