Standards Overview

State of Illinois Teaching Standards

1. Content Knowledge	The competent teacher understands the central concepts, methods of inquiry, and structures of the discipline s and creates learning experiences that make the content meaningful to all students.
2. Human Development and Learning	The competent teacher understands how individuals grow, develop, and learn and provides learning opportunities that support the intellectual, social, and personal development of all students.
3. Diversity	The competent teacher understands how students differ in their approaches to learning and creates instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners.
4. Planning for Instruction	The competent teacher understands instructional planning and designs instruction based upon knowledge of the discipline, students, the community, and curriculum goals.
5. Learning Environment	The competent teacher uses an understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.
6. Instructional Delivery	The competent teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage students’ development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and performance skills.
7. Communication	The competent teacher uses knowledge of effective written, verbal, non-verbal, and visual communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom.
8. Assessment	The competent teacher understands various formal and informal assessment strategies and uses them to support the continuous development of all students.
9. Collaborative Relationships	The competent teacher understands the role of the community in education and develops and maintains collaborative relationships with colleagues, parents/guardians, and the community to support students’ learning and well-being.
10. Reflection and Professional Growth	The competent teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates how choices and actions affect students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community and actively seeks opportunities to grow professionally.
11. Professional Conduct and Leadership	The competent teacher understands education as a profession, maintains standards of professional conduct, and provides leadership to improve students’ learning and well-being.

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Standards Overview

Standards Matrix