Establishes classroom practices that encourage all students to communicate safely and effectively using a variety of tools and methods with the teacher and their peers.

Uses possible student misunderstandings at strategic points in lessons to highlight misconceptions and inspire exploration and discovery.

Provides explanations that are clear and coherent and uses verbal and written communication that is clear and correct.

Asks questions at the creative, evaluative and/or analysis levels that require a deeper learning and broader understanding of the objective of the lesson.

Skillfully balances wait time, questioning techniques and integration of student responses to support student-directed learning.

Skillfully provokes and guides discussion to pique curiosity and inspire student-led learning of meaningful and challenging content.

Establishes classroom practices that encourage all students to communicate effectively, including the use of visual tools and technology, with the teacher and their peers.

Anticipates possible student misunderstandings and proactively develops techniques to address obstacles to learning.

Provides explanations that are clear and coherent and uses verbal and written communication that is clear and correct.

Asks questions at the creative, evaluative and/or analysis levels that focus on the objective of the lesson and provoke thought and discussion.

Skillfully uses probing questions to clarify, elaborate and extend learning.

Provides wait time when questioning students.

Establishes classroom practices that provide opportunities for most students to communicate effectively with the teacher and their peers.

Recognizes student misunderstandings and responds with an array of teaching techniques to clarify concepts.

Provides explanations that are clear and uses verbal and written communication that is clear and coherent.

Asks remember, understand and apply level questions that focus on the objective of the lesson and provoke discussion.

Uses probing questions to clarify and elaborate learning.

Leads lessons with some opportunity for dialogue, clarification or elaboration.

Recognizes student misunderstandings but has a limited ability to respond.

Uses verbal and written communication that is generally clear with minor errors of grammar.

Asks remember and understand level questions that focus on the objective of the lesson but do little to amplify discussion.

Directs lessons with little opportunity for dialogue, clarification or elaboration.

Is sometimes unaware of or unresponsive to student misunderstandings.

Uses verbal communication that is characterized by inaccurate grammar; written communication that has inaccurate spelling, grammar, punctuation or structure.

Rarely asks questions, or asks questions that do not amplify discussion or align to the objective of the lesson.