Unpacking the North Carolina Teacher Candidate Standards 2c and 2d
by Megan McDaniel
Unpacking NCTCS 2c
What is NCTCS 2c?
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"Teachers treat students as individuals. Teachers maintain high expectations, including graduation from high school, for students of all backgrounds. Teachers appreciate the differences and value the contribution of each student in the learning environment by building positive, appropriate relationships."
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What does this standard really mean?
This standard really just means that we, as teachers, respect our students. Regardless of our students' abilities or disabilities, socioeconomic status, race or ethnicity, etc., we have to hold them up to high expectations, treat them as the individuals that they are, and make them feel like they are an important asset to our classrooms! We have to do this, all while maintaining a positive and appropriate (professional) relationship with them. We should make them feel like they add to our classroom, that they are smart and important, and that they are valued!
Key Vocab in the standard:
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individuals: a single human being; a person.
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In this sense, the standard is addressing that all students are treated as a person​, because that is what they are regardless of socioeconomic status, gender, race, ethnicity, disabilities, abilities, etc.
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expectations: the act or state of looking forward or anticipating; an expectant mental attitude
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In this s​ense, the standard is addressing that the teacher should anticipate their students to reach realistic goals, and that teachers should have an expectant mental attitude that students will reach academic goals in order to be successful.
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backgrounds: one's origin, education, experience, etc., in relation to one's present character, status, etc.
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[learning] environment: the social and cultural forces that shape the life of a person or a population
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In this sense, the standard is addressing the environment in which a student learns... the school setting, classroom setting, etc.​
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Key Concepts in the standard:
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appreciating all differences: the definition of "differences" is the state or relation of being different; dissimilarity. The concept of appreciating all differences means that no matter the dissimilarities, all are made to feel equal and appreciated as an asset to the learning environment.
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value the contribution of each student: the definition of the verb form of "value" is to consider with respect to worth, excellence, usefulness, or importance to regard or esteem highly. The concept of valuing the contribution of each student means to consider what each student contributes to the classroom to be important and worthy to be acknowledged.
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positive, appropriate relationships: the definition of "relationship" is a connection, association, or involvement. In the context of this standard, relationships between teachers and students are positive and appropriate. This means professional.