ABSTRACT
In its most fundamental definition, to teach means to impart knowledge and skills. Equally fundamental to the understanding of teaching, one cannot impart knowledge unless one possesses knowledge. Although knowledge, alone, will not suffice to make someone an effective teacher, it certainly is a basic building block to teaching. Thus, possessing the requisite professional knowledge is an essential ingredient to becoming a good teacher. This chapter, the first to explore in-depth the eight recommended teacher performance standards, focuses on the professional knowledge of the teacher. The framework that is used here and in subsequent chapters addresses five key questions related to the Professional Knowledge performance standard for teachers:
What does professional knowledge mean?
What does the research say about professional knowledge of the teacher?
What are research-based quality indicators for professional knowledge?
How can professional knowledge be documented?
What are rating scale options for professional knowledge?
