Teaching in America: Chapter 2: Teaching as a Profession

An occupation that requires advanced education and training and that involves intellectual skills

A national battery of tests prepared by the Educational Testing Service available for the initial certification of teachers. Consists of assessments in three areas: Academic Skills, Knowledge of Subject, and Classroom Performance.

The oldest and largest professional association for teachers and administrators

The active process of thinking before teaching, during teaching, and after teaching in order to make decisions about how to plan, assess, and teach

The values, commitments, and ethical decisions and practices that influence behavior toward students, families, colleagues, and members of the profession and community

The act of engaging in strategies designed to improve the circumstances of children and families. Advocates move beyond their day-to-day professional responsibilities and work collaboratively to help others

Beliefs about children's development and learning and the best ways to teach them

The values that relate to your beliefs about the nature and purposes of life; your role and calling in life; and your responsibilities to others

The beliefs that include what you believe about the nature of students, the purpose of education, and the role of teachers

The practice of using assessment data measuring student performance to evaluate and change instructional practice so that all students succeed

A school that has formed a partnership with a college or university for the purposes of improving teacher preparation programs, student achievement, and reforming schools

The continuing process whereby teachers identify a problem specific to their own classroom situation and plan and implement a program to solve the problem

The process of growing and becoming a professional

A defined group of educational stakeholders brought together to enable teachers and others to collaborate in support of reflective practice, action research, and ongoing professional development

A national professional association for teachers, affiliated with the AFL-CIO; the second largest organization of educators

This group issued the report "A Nation Prepared: Teachers for the 21st Century" criticizing how the nation's colleges and universities prepare teachers and recommending more rigorous teacher education

A Carnegie Foundation report that criticizes how the nation's colleges and universities prepare teachers and recommends more rigorous teacher education

Programs designed to recruit, prepare, and license individuals who are already have at least a bachelor's degree and who often have other careers

Pay based on meritorious service, performance, and/or special assignments

Salary increases based on student achievement and classroom performance. Gradually replacing the term "Merit Pay"