Instruction
Aligned instruction comprises the following activities:
- Teaching topics that are aligned with the standards.
- Ensuring the right level of challenge.
- Focusing teaching based on the learning needs of each student.
- Implementing instructional strategies to increase student achievement.
The Instruction section of the SAS portal includes sections on Teacher and Principal Effectiveness, and several instructional strategies documents.
Pennsylvania has adopted Charlotte Danielson's (2011) Framework for Teaching as the overarching vision for effective instruction in the Commonwealth. The model focuses the complex activity of teaching by defining four domains of teaching responsibility:
- Planning and Preparation
- Classroom Environment
- Instruction
- Professional Responsibilities
The Teacher Effectiveness tab provides the complete rubric for implementing Danielson's Framework, as well as access to Teachscape’s online professional development series on the Framework. Users may also locate examples that highlight the use of the Danielson Framework with professionals with unique roles and functions, such as school librarians, reading specialists, etc.
Since the 2014-2015 school year, Principal Effectiveness has been measured using an instrument that establishes a set of four leadership domains; Strategic/Cultural Leadership, Systems leadership, Leadership for Learning, and Professional and Community Leadership. The domains and accompanying rubric can be viewed on the Principal Effectiveness tab.
Review the Instructional Practices document before watching the following video. Consider the instructional practices that are incorporated into the lesson.
The documents that are posted in the Teacher of the Year section provide information on how to nominate educators for Teacher of the Year, as well as a timeline for important due dates for nomination/application materials.