Professional Knowledge and Practice
What to know
Professional knowledge covers child development, learning theory, classroom management, assessment, planning, and ethics. Know developmental stages (Piaget's cognitive stages, Erikson's psychosocial stages, Vygotsky's zone of proximal development and scaffolding). Understand learning theories-behaviorism, cognitivism, constructivism, and social learning-and how each shapes instruction. Know assessment types: formative (ongoing, informs teaching) vs. summative (end of unit), and the difference between norm-referenced and criterion-referenced tests. Understand differentiation (content, process, product), Universal Design for Learning, and supports for English learners and students with IEPs or 504 plans. Know classroom-management principles: clear expectations, routines, positive reinforcement, and culturally responsive practice. Understand legal and ethical duties: confidentiality, mandated reporting, and appropriate teacher-student boundaries.
Traps
Questions swap formative and summative purposes, or label an accommodation (changes how a student learns/demonstrates) as a modification (changes what is taught/expected). Another trap: attributing a behavior to a learning disability when it reflects a developmental stage, or choosing a punitive response where positive support is appropriate. Watch for answers that violate confidentiality or ignore family involvement.
Rule of thumb
Ask the purpose of the assessment or strategy. Worked example: a teacher gives a quick exit ticket after a lesson to see who needs reteaching tomorrow. Because it is used to adjust instruction during learning, it is formative. If the same content were tested at unit's end for a grade, it would be summative.