Teachers should organize their instructional programs on objectives that relate to student and teacher understandings, attitudes, and appreciation rather than on objectives that emphasize performance or competencies. Studies to identify differences in schools achieving lower than expected results on state tests of basic skills indicate three elements: 1) teacher's understanding of the structure and substance of the content being taught, 2) teacher's awareness of the particular characteristics of the group of students being taught, and 3) teacher's use of practices consistent with principles of learning. The teacher should be able to grasp the structure of a subject in a way that permits other things to be related to it. These abilities will enable the teacher to teach students"how to learn," as well as enabling them to transmit basic skills and competencies. (CJ)