The Upper Valley Teacher Internship believes that great teaching is based upon mastery of a core set of teaching competencies that can be both articulated and documented.  These 22 competencies call for teachers to understand children, to know the apppropriate content, to employ effective teaching practices, to practice clear communciation, and to maintain high standards of professional behavior.  While we have grouped these competencies for beginning teachers in general categories, they are interdependent and part of a complex process that is the art of teaching. 

A. Classroom Organization and Environment

1. Identifies, communicates, models, and upholds appropriate behavior.

2. Develops open communication, mutual respect, and rapport with and among students.

3. Uses proactive and preventive measures to maintain a safe and affirming learning environment for all students.

4. Employs strategies that help students grow in self-discipline, self-motivation, and in the ability to make sound personal and ethical judgments.

5. Accommodates the individual differences and the cultural, linguistic and learning diversity of students in an inclusive and culturally responsive environment.

B. Planning, Teaching and Assessment

Planning:

6. Understands and builds upon content knowledge through the application of core concepts and best practices.

7. Builds upon knowledge of child/adolescent cognitive, social, and emotional development at the elementary, middle school and high school stages and responds to student needs and experiences.

8. Identifies and uses curriculum goals and objectives, including state and district curriculum standards and grade-level expectations for elementary, middle and high school.

9. Accesses, interprets and applies assessment data from a variety of school sources.

Teaching:

10. Understands and implements a variety of strategies and techniques to engage elementary, middle and high school students and meet appropriate state standards and district curriculum goals.

11. Presents material for elementary, niddle and/or high school students in a clear and engaging manner and differentiates instruction.

12. Promotes student engagement, reflection and critical thinking through effective questioning and group discussion.

13. Facilitates individual and collaborative projects that include all learners and that help students develop mutual respect and a concern for equity.

14. Develops and refines media literacy and technological skills that enhance teaching and promote student technological literacy.

Assessment:

15. Designs and records pre-assessment data to measure prior knowledge.

16.  Uses formative and summative assessment strategies, appropriate to elementary, middle and high school students, to make on-going instructional decisions and to inform future instruction.

17. Provides meaningful and timely feedback to students to promote student self-evaluation.

.C. Professionalism

18. Demonstrates timely and effective interpersonal, oral, written, and non-verbal communication skills in relation to students, school staff, parents and UVEI supervisors.

19. Demonstrates effective organizational and time management skills.

20. Understands the legal rights and responsibilities of educators and appropriately applies confidentiality and professional ethics when responding to all situations. 

21. Maintains the weekly practice of reflection to promote growth as a teacher and future educational leader.

22. Understands the impact of a school’s culture on the teaching/learning climate and becomes involved in the life of the school and community.