By mastering the 12 foundational competencies, educators can build a solid foundation for continued growth. The competencies are a subset of those outlined in the Educator Competencies for Personalized, Learner-Centered Environments, created to empower a growing number of teachers to implement and scale up a transformation of their classrooms into places of personalized, student-centered learning. While Educator Competencies explores many areas, 12 competencies were flagged as foundational and ‘prerequisite’ to all others, including using a mastery approach.
Mastery approach
Use a mastery approach to learning
Teachers who use a mastery approach:
- Draw on competencies and standards to build curriculum units that address essential questions and real-world problems
- Use a variety of methods that demonstrate understanding to determine students progress and pace
- Customize instruction, supports and pacing so all learners can master content
- Maintain high expectations while giving opportunities to revise and improve
- Implement a high-quality mastery approach, integrating many of the other instructional competencies
Customizing and scaffolding learning with differentiated supports and pacing is key to help all students achieve mastery. A kindergarten teacher and her students explain how classroom work is organized to help students meet individual learning targets. The voices of such young students articulating their own progress towards these learning goals is inspiring.
At Pittsfield Middle School, students choose how they will show what they have learned. The mastery approach allows for student agency, voice and creativity in instruction and assessments. In turn, teachers have a greater sense of what exactly students can do and what supports they still need to progress. With a mastery approach, teachers can customize instruction so all learners master content.
Learn more about this and other competencies, as well as how to transform classrooms into places of personalized, student-centered learning, by interacting with Educator Competencies for Personalized, Learner-Centered Environments.
