Professional Development

Proposition 1:
Teachers are Committed to Students and Learning

• NBCTs are dedicated to making knowledge accessible to all students. They believe all students can learn.
• They treat students equitably. They recognize the individual differences that distinguish their students from one another and they take account for these differences in their practice.
• NBCTs understand how students develop and learn.
• They respect the cultural and family differences students bring to their classroom.
• They are concerned with their students’ self-concept, their motivation and the effects of learning on peer relationships.
• NBCTs are also concerned with the development of character and civic responsibility.

Proposition 2:
Teachers Know the Subjects They Teach & How to Teach Those Subjects to Students

• NBCTs have mastery over the subject(s) they teach. They have a deep understanding of the history, structure and real-world applications of the subject.
• They have skill and experience in teaching it, and they are very familiar with the skills gaps and preconceptions students may bring to the subject.
  
• They are able to use diverse instructional strategies to teach for understanding.

Proposition 3:
Teachers are Responsible for Managing and Monitoring Student Learning

• NBCTs deliver effective instruction. They move fluently through a range of instructional techniques, keeping students motivated, engaged and focused.
  
• They know how to engage students to ensure a disciplined learning environment, and how to organize instruction to meet instructional goals.
• NBCTs know how to assess the progress of individual students as well as the class as a whole.
  
• They use multiple methods for measuring student growth and understanding, and they can clearly explain student performance to parents.

Proposition 4:
Teachers Think Systematically about Their Practice and Learn from Experience

• NBCTs model what it means to be an educated person – they read, they question, they create and they are willing to try new things.
  
• They are familiar with learning theories and instructional strategies and stay abreast of current issues in American education.
  
• They critically examine their practice on a regular basis to deepen knowledge, expand their repertoire of skills, and incorporate new findings into their practice.

Proposition 5:
Teachers are Members of Learning Communities

• NBCTs collaborate with others to improve student learning.
  
• They are leaders and actively know how to seek and build partnerships with community groups and businesses. They work with other professionals on instructional policy, curriculum development and staff development.
  
• They can evaluate school progress and the allocation of resources in order to meet state and local education objectives.
  
• They know how to work collaboratively with parents to engage them productively in the work of the school.