Indicator 4.11 – Eastern Middle School - DEMO

Teachers have strong knowledge of their subject matter areas.

This indicator explores the extent of content and pedagogy knowledge in your school.

How many teachers in your school are or are not working in their areas of expertise?
What opportunities for strengthening subject matter expertise are available?
What are the expectations of instructional staff for professional development and continuing education?

Solicit the opinions of staff members on the implications of the ratio of veteran to new teachers and certified to noncertified teachers in a particular subject area or grade.
As a staff, create a resource center within a school. Visit the NEA Professional Library for ideas and suggestions, www.nea.org/books. You can use a small room off the media center, convert a stock room, or renovate unused space in the building. This room can serve as an alternative to the teachers' lounge with alternative norms, expectations, and interactions among colleagues during the school day.
Encourage colleagues to come together to read journals, view educational videos, peruse books and catalogs, or engage in informal, professional conversations. You may also use the time to assess how you can use content information to sustain quality instructional practices.
1. Talk about what can be done to support quality student instructional practices.
2. Identify action steps for how you can enhance instructional practices.
3. Identify common areas to address.

This indicator is related to the Making Continuous Improvement Second Nature section of the Next Steps resources.