Professionalizing the first steps of the teaching journey

Abstract

Educators Rising, which is part of the PDK International Family of Associations, developed a set of seven standards to define what high school students exploring teaching need to know and be able to do to take their first steps on the path to accomplished teaching. The standards represent a new, shared vision from the field; the teaching profession is mapping the front end of a coherent continuum from the initial exploratory phase to entry into the profession to becoming an accomplished practitioner. The seven standards are Standard I: Understanding the Profession; Standard II: Learning About Students; Standard III: Building Content Knowledge; Standard IV: Engaging in Responsive Planning; Standard V: Implementing Instruction; Standard VI: Using Assessment and Data; and Standard VII: Engaging in Reflective Practice.