Elementary teacher subjectmatter expertise is key driver of high student performance - Study
Anew report by the United States' National Center on Education and the Economy, has provided new insights into a critical driver of the success of the world's top-performing education systems: developing elementary teachers with deep content knowledge.
According to the report – Not So Elementary: Primary School Teacher Quality in Top-Performing Systems – these highperforming systems recognize that a strong foundation in the core subjects in the early grades increases the chances that all students will achieve at higher levels throughout their schooling.
The report finds that teacher preparation in Finland, Japan, Shanghai, and Hong Kong builds deep understanding of the content being taught in elementary schools as well as of how young students learn and understand that content – two essential components of highly-effective teaching.
In the report, leading Australian researcher Ben Jensen, describes how highperforming countries ensure that their elementary teachers have strong content knowledge. They have done so by focusing on the selection of teachers, content specialization, initial teacher education, and professional learning systems in their schools. These four policy levers, combined with a well-integrated and highly effective education system as a whole, serve as a powerful means of improving student learning.