Since there quite a few of us who are trying for National Board Certification this school year. I thought it would be a great idea to have a thread which will provide us with tips to do at the Beginning of the Year to start us all off on the right track.
Here are some tips I found as I was doing my research:
~ Issue out Student Release Forms right at the beginning of the year along with all the other forms that you issue out (ex. Syllabus, Classroom Expectations, Internet Usage Policy Forms, etc.)
~ Start your communication log with parents. And, be sure to log in ALL types of interactions you have with parents.
~Be sure to save a copy of all forms, letters, etc. that you send out to parents. And, vice versa, save the letters that you receive from parents. You'll never know when you'll need them!
Please add on to the list. Right now, these are some things that I am starting to do, but I would love to read other tips and tricks ;-)
I am willing to help in anyway I can. I am a trained facilitator. I trained in St. Louis in May. I achieved as an Early Childhood Generalist. Organization is key and essential for the process. It is the best professional development challenge I have ever undertaken. It is a process of reflection which will transform you as an educator. It's a win- win for you and your kiddos! Congratulations for taking the journey! Again, I will help in any way I can.
Sheila
NBCT 2006
I went through the NB process last year, so I'll try to help in any way I can. It sounds like you already have a great start. Here are a few things I can think of:
Remember to save email correspondence with parents...both ones you send and receive.
If possible, find a mentor in your school or district. My district has a group of NB certified teachers that met with us to provide help. They proofread our entries and made suggestions that made my entries much stronger. This was extremely helpful!!!
If you haven't already, read and study the standards.
I suggest reading all the requirements for each entry before you begin. This will give you an overall "picture" of the portfolio and each entry. Make notes/highlight ideas as you read the entry requirements.
Go ahead and start video recording in your classroom. This will get the students accustomed to being on camera, and you may see some things you want to change when you do the real recordings. This will allow you to experiment with the lighting and sound...I learned to close my classroom blinds because the video went dark when it filmed toward the windows. It also allowed me to teach my students to speak up when the camera was on them and whisper if it wasn't.
I was wondering what area you received certification in and what grade you teach. I will definitely follow your suggestions. Did you have a certain way of organizing everything that you could suggest? I'd like to have a system in place right from the start.
Carolynn...I teach 5th grade & I did my certification in EMC Literacy. I just went through the process last year, so I'm still waiting on my results. Hopefully, I'll get it the first time...but who knows?
I would suggest printing everything on the CD (standards, portfolio entry requirements, etc.). I like looking at a hard copy better than reading it on the computer screen. Then as I was reading, I highlighted, made notes, and used post-it flags to mark important things. I would suggest setting up a folder or notebook for each entry. Put the standards and a copy of the entry requirements in the folder along with any documentation you collect throughout the school year (student work samples, parent letters, communication, etc.).
Last year I was very excited about national Boards. It turned out to be the most disappointed task ever and expensive also.
I guess I just didn’t understand what it was expected of me and the two people that were supposed to be mentoring me kept saying that they couldn’t tell me anything, that I had to do it myself. But every time I sent them something to read they kept saying to read the instructions again. I finally felt stupid and gave it up. Besides, I haven’t done anything great like cutting my veins for some one.
I have signed up for "Take One" (part of the National Board Certification Process) and have no idea what I have gotten myself into! I have started reading, researched and made notes, and highlighted the "standards." This is my 1st year in 4th grade ELA, but have taught 12 years prior (6 years deaf ed., 3 years music, 3 years P.E.). I signed up for the Early & Middle Childhood/Literacy: Reading -Lang. Arts. I feel very overwhelmed right now! Are there some literature/books that you can recommend? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Question -- I am planning the math/science entry. Teaching a unit on equal arm balance. "Inquiry" in my state means having a variable, 3 tests, etc. I am interpreting the instructions here to mean that kids are inquiring -
I am planning on students using 4 items, predict the lightest to heaviest, use equal arm balance to discover answer, use greater than, less than, to compare.
As documentation of impact on student learning, ask for feedback in weekly newsletters about particular lessons or skills. That might give you some written documentation of learning. It also shows documentation for home school connection for entry 4.
First, best wishes on this "journey." I certified MCGen last Nov. The consent forms you asked about can be printed from the CD you receive in the box or from the nbpts.com website. As for saving all communication, I just think that it will help to support your entry if you can give specific examples of interactions w/parents. I had a running log of interactions, but as with all best intentions, I didn't always record them, but was able to fill in for a complete page by looking back. Remember for Entry 4, you have room for 16 pages of documentation (well mine did, look for your max. limits) to support your accomplishments.
08-26-2007, 07:47 AM
bamagirl
bamagirl
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