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Standard 3 - Understanding and Organizing Subject Matter for Student Learning

Teachers exhibit in-depth working knowledge of subject matter, academic content standards, and curriculum frameworks. They apply knowledge of student development and proficiencies to ensure student understanding of content. They organize curriculum to facilitate students' understanding of the subject matter. Teachers utilize instructional strategies that are appropriate to the subject matter. They use and adapt resources, technologies, and standards-aligned instructional materials, including adopted materials, to make subject matter accessible to all students. They address the needs of English learners and students with special needs to provide equitable access to the content.

3.3 Organizing curriculum to facilitate student understanding of the subject matter 

As teachers develop, they may ask, “How do I…” or “Why do I…”

  • use my knowledge of student readiness to learn to organize, sequence, and enhance the curriculum?
  • apply my knowledge of the subject matter to organize curriculum, plan lessons and units, and select instructional strategies that demonstrate key concepts and their interrelationships?
  • organize subject matter to reveal and value different cultural perspectives?
  • incorporate subject or grade level expectations and curriculum frameworks in organizing subject matter?
  • utilize standards-aligned and/or adopted curriculum in ways that support student learning?