Wisconsin Teacher Standards

The teacher understands how pupils grow and develop, recognizing that patterns of learning and development vary individually within and across the cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas. The teacher designs and implements developmentally appropriate and challenging learning experiences for pupils.

Application in Observations and Self-Assessments

• Understands how pupils grow and develop - child development

• Understands patterns of learning and development vary individually

• Understands that patterns of learning and development vary within and across cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical areas.

• Understands and designs developmentally and challenging learning experiences for all children.

The teacher uses his or her understanding of individual pupil differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each pupil to meet high standards.

Application in Observations and Self-Assessments

• Understands individual pupil differences

• Understands diversity of cultures, families, and communities

• Understands and ensures inclusive learning environments

• Enables all pupils to meet high achievement standards

The teacher works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self-motivation.

Application in Observations and Self-Assessments

• Works with others to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning.

• Encourages positive social interaction.

• Encourages active engagement in learning.

• Encourages and builds pupil self-motivation.

The teacher understands the central concepts, tools of inquiry, and structures of each discipline he or she teaches. The teacher creates learning experiences that make the discipline accessible and meaningful for pupils to assure mastery of the content.

Application in Observations and Self-Assessments

• Understands the central concepts and tools of inquiry for knowledge acquisition.

• Understands structures of each discipline of teaching assignment.

• Creates learning experiences that make discipline accessible and meaningful.

• Assures pupil mastery of content.

The teacher understands how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage pupils in critical thinking, creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues.

Application in Observations and Self-Assessments

• Understands how to connect concepts.

• Understands how to use differing perspectives to engage pupils.

• Engages pupils in critical thinking and creativity.

• Engages pupils in collaborative problem solving related to local and global issues.

The teacher understands and uses multiple methods of assessment to engage pupils in their own growth, to monitor pupil progress, and to guide the teacher’s and pupil’s decision making.

Application in Observations and Self-Assessments

• Understands and uses multiple methods of assessment.

• Uses assessments to engage pupils in their own growth.

• Uses assessments to monitor pupil progress.

• Uses formative assessments to guide teachers and pupils decision-making.

The teacher plans instruction that supports every pupil in meeting rigorous learning goals by drawing upon knowledge of content areas, curriculum, cross-disciplinary skills, pedagogy, pupils, and pupils’ communities.

Application in Observations and Self-Assessments

• Plans instruction that supports every pupil in meeting rigorous learning goals

• Plans instruction that draws upon pupil’s prior knowledge of content and scaffolds curricular learning

• Plans instruction that engages cross-disciplinary skills, and pedagogy

• Planning displays knowledge of pupils and pupils’ communities

The teacher understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage pupils to develop a deep understanding of content areas and their connections, and to develop skills to apply knowledge in a meaningful way.

Application in Observations and Self-Assessments

• Understands and uses a variety of instructional strategies.

• Instructional strategies encourage pupils to develop deep understanding of content areas and their connections.

• Instructional strategies cause pupils to develop skills and apply knowledge in a meaningful way.

• Instructional strategies include formative assessment and adjusted instruction as needed.

The teacher engages in ongoing professional learning. The teacher uses evidence to continuously evaluate the teacher’s practice, including the effects of the teacher’s choices and actions on pupils, their families, other educators, and the community. The teacher adapts the teacher’s practice to meet the needs of each pupil.

Application in Observations and Self-Assessments

• Engages in ongoing professional learning.

• Uses evidence to continuously evaluate the teaching practice

• Uses evidence to continuously evaluate effect of teacher’s choices and action on pupils, their families, and the community

• Adapts teacher practices to meet the needs of each pupil

The teacher seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunity in order to take responsibility for pupil learning, to collaborate with pupils, their families, educators, and the community, and to advance the profession.

Application in Observations and Self-Assessments

• Seeks appropriate leadership roles and opportunities

• Takes responsibility for pupil learning

• Takes responsibility to collaborate with pupils, pupils families, and other educators

• Works to advance the teaching profession