Focus On Content Knowledge

Pairing mentors and beginning teachers in their specific content areas is an important way to deepen subject matter knowledge for teaching. Addressing misconceptions, scaffolding, and providing models for teaching difficult concepts are essential components for teaching a subject effectively. Developing engaging and content rich lessons, and then assessing student work for understanding helps beginning teachers in determining what it means to teach the discipline well. In helping beginning teachers learn how to assess their students’ work, and use what they discover about how well their students are learning the content as a means to drive their daily instructions,

My mentor gives me ideas about resources to help me be more knowledgeable about teaching content better. We often discuss different issues I may be having in my classroom and ideas to deal with these issues. She often models or co-teaches to keep students engaged when she is in my room which gives me different strategies. After she observes a lesson, we discuss it and come up with ideas.
-First year beginning teacher

mentors can help beginning teachers establish the accountability and differentiation skills that are vital to ensuring that students learn and understand the curriculum. Beginning teachers who commonly struggle with a variety of issues work with their mentors to understand that engaging content integrates management and organization. Focused study groups center around key components of content instruction and issues in specific courses of study. Engaging in work around implementing state standards with university content specialists allows for further discourse and support in developing and understanding of content knowledge. Analysis of student work allows for a window into student thinking to in turn guide effective and targeted instruction. Good teaching involves knowing content, understanding how to scaffold learning, keeping students motivated, and creating engaging tasks.