What is it? Why is it important? To be successful in the classroom, teachers must have a great knowledge of the content that they will be teaching, the students that they will have, and the resources that will be available to them. Once teachers are aware of these things, they will best be able to design instruction that is tailored to the needs of the students, as well as plan assessments that will give an accurate reflection of what students actually know. It is important for teachers to devote time to planning so that they will be well prepared when they begin to teach a lesson. Teachers must also keep in mind that each year will require different lessons and resources as all classes and the students that make them up will be different.
What are they components? 1A - Demonstrating Knowledge of Content and Pedagogy Before teachers can expect to teach, they must thoroughly know the content. This will allow them to teach at a greater depth, which will provide the students with many opportunities to learn and develop. In addition, teachers need to be aware of the methods that can be used to teach the content, choosing the ones that will be the most efficient and effective for all students. 1B - Demonstrating Knowledge of Students Arguably one of the most important aspects of the Danielson Framework, component 1B speaks to the importance of teachers getting to know their students. Teachers must take the time to learn as much as possible about what their students enjoy, what their lives are like outside of the classroom, how they prefer to learn, and what needs they may have. 1C - Setting Instructional Outcomes Before teachers begin to teach a lesson, they should inform the students as to the purpose of the topic that they are studying and the value that it has in their lives. Students should know what they will be learning, and what it is that they will be expected to be able to do or understand at the conclusion of a lesson. 1D - Demonstrating Knowledge of Resources In order for students to get the most out of a lesson, teachers must be sure to implement resources that will enhance the learning when possible. To do this, they need to be aware of what resources are available to them as teachers, as well as what materials the students can use both inside and outside of the classroom. 1E - Designing Coherent Instruction When planning their lessons, teachers must know what they are required to teach to their students so that they can be sure to cover every topic. In addition, when teaching, teachers should attempt to connect one lesson to the next whenever possible, creating a flow that can be easily followed by the students. 1F - Designing Student Assessments Assessments should be both formative and summative, meaning that some assessments are designed to be graded and to see how much the students have learned, and others should be given without being graded, simply to see how students are processing the material and whether or not a particular lesson needs to be retaught. Through all types of assessments, teachers must be sure that they are incorporating questions that encourage the students to think deeply.