1. Content Pedagogy
   The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of the discipline he or she teaches and can create learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful to students.
2. Student Development
   The teacher understands how children learn and develop and can provide learning opportunities that support a child’s intellectual, social, and personal development.
3. Diverse Learners
   The teacher understands how students differ in their approaches to learning and creates instructional opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners.
4. Multiple Instructional Strategies
   The teacher uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage student development of critical thinking, problem solving and performance skills.
5. Motivation and Management.
   The teacher uses an understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self motivation.
6. Communication and Technology
   The teacher uses knowledge of effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration, and supportive interaction in the classroom.
7. Planning
   The teacher plans based upon knowledge of subject matter, students, the community, and curriculum goals.
8. Assessment
   The teacher understands and uses formal and informal assessment strategies to evaluate and ensure the continuous intellectual, social, and physical development of the learner.
9. Reflective Practice: Professional Growth
   The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his or her choices and actions on others (students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community) and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.
10. School and Community Involvement
    The teacher fosters relationships with school colleagues, parents, and agencies in the larger community to support students’ learning and well being.
    
    

Core Competencies for Advanced Licensure in Birth through Kindergarten

1. Instructional Expertise
   Applies the theoretical, philosophical, and research bases for educational practice in the classrooms to improve student learning. Plans, implements, and evaluates instruction that is rigorous, coherent, and consistent with a well developed theoretical and philosophical stance and with best practices emerging from educational research.
2. Knowledge of Learners
   Incorporates knowledge of the nature of the learner, learning processes, variations in learning abilities and learning styles, and strategies for evaluating learning. Plans, implements, and evaluates instruction that is responsive to wide variations in students’ learning needs and learning styles.
3. Research Expertise
   Understands and employs methods of research to examine and improve instructional effectiveness and student achievement.
4. Connecting Subject Matter and Learners
   Understands and links subject matter and students’ developmental and diverse needs in the context of school settings. Plans, implements, and evaluates instruction that reflects intellectual rigor and depth of knowledge in both subject matter disciplines and students’ diverse learning needs.
5. Professional Development and Leadership
   Demonstrates self-directed, self-reflective professional behavior and provides leadership to colleagues and communities through collaboration.