Ashley Bason

March 20th, 2018

SCED 499

InTASC Standard #5 Reflection

Being a teacher is more than just knowing material within a specific content area. A

teacher’s knowledge should extend as they always seek to find ways to help students apply what

is being taught to real-world situations. InTASC Standard #5 states, “The teacher understands

how to connect concepts and use differing perspectives to engage learners in critical thinking,

creativity, and collaborative problem solving related to authentic local and global issues”

(Council of Chief State School Officers, 2013, p. 27). In other words, a teacher should

understand how various lessons being taught can correlate to issues happening both locally and

globally. They should be able to help their students see the relevance of the information being

taught during class by challenging them to think critically about specific topics and learn from

classmates through collaborative activities.

Let us imagine that the assigned reading for a particular period is The Outsiders. Prior to

starting the text, the teacher gives students an assignment in which they research either a local or

global area and explore their class system. While reviewing the class systems, the students are

informed that they should take notes on the characteristics that surround the lowest class. These

notes will then be transferred to a Venn Diagram, and while students are reading The Outsiders

they will be responsible for comparing the Greasers to another low class in society today. This

assignment relates to InTASC Standard #5 because it forces students to make connections with

the 1960’s text to what is happening in society today. Students will be forced to employ critical

thinking skills as they compare and contrast their findings.

 Under the “Critical Disposition” tab for InTASC Standard 5(q) it reads, “The teacher is

constantly exploring how to use disciplinary knowledge as a lens to address local and global

issues” (27). Within an English Language Arts classroom, the teacher may have students

complete a social justice project that can address a research issue that either affects their local

community or the global community. This project could happen while students are reading

novels such To Kill A Mockingbird, The House on Mango Street, The Crucible, or any other text

that allows for discussion about issues happening within specific communities. Through this

project, they could use skills learned such as researching and writing.

InTASC Standard #5 is important because it aids teachers in their conquest to making

learning relevant to the real-world. When students can make connections on how information can

be applied to their lives, they are often more keen to paying attention and taking something from

the lesson.