Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Candidate Competencies for Grades 4-8 Education

I. Middle Level Education

Candidates will demonstrate their ability and understanding of:

A. Philosophy of middle school education

B. Adolescent development

C. Student transition

D. Instructional strategies

E. Technology and materials

F. Classroom management

G. Professionalism

II. Subject Matter Content and Pedagogy

A. English/Language Arts and Reading

  1. Foundations in Research
  2. Word Level Instruction
  3. Text Level Comprehension
  4. Reading-Writing Connection
  5. Instructional Approaches and Materials
  6. Assessment in Literacy

B. Mathematics

  1. Develop, implement, assess and modify curriculum and lessons
  2. Numbers and Operations, Algebra and Functions
  3. Geometry and Measurement
  4. Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability
  5. Calculus Concepts and Applications
  6. Mathematical Modeling and Applications of Mathematical Understanding 

C. Science

  1. Develop, implement, assess and modify curriculum and lessons
  2. Standards
  3. Ecology
  4. Physical sciences
  5. Life sciences
  6. Earth and space sciences
  7. Science and inquiry

D. Social studies

  1. Develop, implement, assess and modify curriculum and lessons
  2. Principles 
  3. Standards 
  4. Geography and world cultures 
  5. Research and history
  6. Economics 
  7. Government and citizenship

III. Assessment Skills

  1. Use assessment data to guide instruction
  2. Monitor the results of interventions and alter instruction accordingly
  3. Use multiple assessments that are developmentally appropriate
  4. Implement technology in student assessment measures
  5. Use multiple assessment strategies that effectively measure student mastery of the curriculum in more than one way
  6. Design assessments that target academic standards and assessment anchors