Teaching in ways that enable students to learn and apply knowledge requires that teachers have a deep and flexible knowledge of subject matter, so that they can represent ideas in powerful ways that connect to students’ experiences, can organize a productive learning process for students who start with different levels and kinds of prior knowledge, can assess how and what students are learning, and can adapt instruction to different learning approaches. Educator preparation must have dedicated courses and opportunities for candidates to develop pedagogical content knowledge which supports their learning of how to design, sequence and pace appropriate activities; diagnose and respond to student learning needs with appropriate scaffolding; and integrate social, emotional, and academic skills.
