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Our teacher education program is designed to ensure that students meet the Rhode Island Professional Teaching Standards. As prospective teachers, students must demonstrate knowledge and attainment of specific standards that are desirable for a beginning teacher. Eleven standards serve as broad instructional and assessment goals for the teacher education programs. These standards are consistent with current theories and practice associated with teacher preparation and performance.

They are:

  1. Teachers create learning experiences using a broad base of general knowledge that reflects an understanding of the nature of the communities and world in which we live.
  2. Teachers have a deep content knowledge base sufficient to create learning experiences that reflect an understanding of central concepts, vocabulary, structure and tools of inquiry of the disciplines/content areas they teach.
  3. Teachers create instructional opportunities that reflect an understanding of how children learn and develop.
  4. Teachers create instructional opportunities that reflect a respect for the diversity of learners and an understanding of how students differ in their approaches to learning.
  5. Teachers create instructional opportunities to encourage all students' development of critical thinking, problem solving, performance skills, and literacy across content areas.
  6. Teachers create a supportive learning environment that encourages appropriate standards of behavior, positive social interaction, active engagement in learning and self-motivation.
  7. Teachers work collaboratively with all school personnel, families and the broader community to create a professional learning community and environment that supports the improvement of teaching, learning and student achievement.
  8. Teachers use effective communication as the vehicle through which students explore, conjecture, discuss and investigate new ideas.
  9. Teachers use appropriate formal and informal assessment strategies with individuals and groups of students to determine the impact of instruction on learning, to provide feedback and to plan future instruction.
  10. Teachers reflect on their practice and assume responsibility for their own professional development by actively seeking and participating in opportunities to learn and grow as professionals.
  11. Teachers maintain professional standards guided by legal and ethical principles.