Standard Seven: Engagement with Elementary Subject Matter

1. In what ways does the student teacher:
2. demonstrate understanding and enthusiasm in the elementary disciplines – children’s literature, reading, writing, math, problem solving, science, social studies, art, technology, health, physical education?
3. understand how knowledge in each discipline is created, organized and linked to other disciplines? (RIPTS #2.1)
4. use subject knowledge to carefully select instructional materials and resources based on their comprehensiveness, accuracy and usefulness? (RIPTS #2.3)
5. use precise and appropriate language to convey content accurately and understandably? (RIPTS #8.1)
6. demonstrate a broad knowledge base that could be used to create interdisciplinary learning experiences? (RIPTS #1.2)
7. demonstrate an awareness of means of explanation and multiple representations of concepts (including analogies, metaphors, experiments, demonstrations, illustrations) that help students develop a conceptual understanding? (RIPTS #2.4)
8. represent and use differing viewpoints, theories and methods of inquiry when teaching concepts and encourage students to see, question, and interpret concepts from a variety of perspectives? (RIPTS #2.5)
9. mediate the tension between content and skills demands in the subject areas? (RIPTS #2.2)
10. demonstrate an ability to present subject matter in culturally responsive ways, which assumes a knowledge of cultures and backgrounds present in the classroom? (RIPTS #1.1)
11. exhibit a commitment to learning about the changes in their disciplines and in our world that models a commitment to lifelong learning for students. (RIPTS #1.3)

Teachers create learning experiences using a broad base of general knowledge that reflects an understanding of the nature of the world in which we live. (RIPTS #1)

Teachers create learning experiences that reflect an understanding of central concepts, structures, and tools of inquiry of the disciplines they teach. (RIPTS #2)

Meeting Standard Seven:

The teacher candidate demonstrates a deepening knowledge and mastery of the skills and knowledge bases central to the elementary disciplines. Interest in, and enthusiasm for all the elementary disciplines, is demonstrated by the teacher candidate using multiple resources to create informative lessons and units. Lessons present students with challenging activities and projects that deepen their conceptual understanding, engage them in culturally responsive ways, and encourage them to solve problems, raise questions and interact in ways that contribute to a positive learning environment.

This standard is met if the teacher candidate demonstrates a high level of comfort and precision in presenting and explaining concepts in all the elementary disciplines.