Communicating the Next Message of Reform through the Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics. Communicating the Next Message of Reform through the Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics. Together, these standards reflect NCTM's long-term commitment to the reform of school mathematics. The teaching envisioned in the Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics is significantly different from what many teachers themselves have experienced as students.
Teachers are the key to changing the way in which mathematics is taught and learned.
If teachers are to create learning environments that empower students, teachers need time and resources to develop the professional teaching skills envisioned here. They must have ongoing professional development opportunities, flexibility, and instructional and assessment materials that are consistent with the Curriculum and Evaluation Standards. Teachers must have long-term support and adequate resources. This vision of teaching mathematics requires that teachers be supported, encouraged, and rewarded by administrators, parents, and the community. This kind of recognition and collective support will take time to develop, but it is a principle element in effective change in the classroom environment.