National Board Candidate Support
See also: My Story Assessment Center Information Assessor Advice Resource Books
The national board process is an intensive look at your teaching situation, taking up to 400 hours of work in a year. As I offer support, I like to remind teachers of three key ideas.
First, it is "standards based". Everything that you need to know is provided by NBPTS. The site contains standards, helpful advice, and even notes used by the assessors for each certificate. NBPTS does not hide information from the candidate about the application process. However, there is so much information and the process is so novel for most candidates that the process can be overwhelming.
Second, it was written for teachers and by teachers with the focus on effective teaching. So if you already know how to teach so students can learn, then you are well on your way. Do not try to create new lessons for the process; this is not a dog and pony show. Effective teachers should use tried and true lessons where learning is taking place. This is not an award, just advanced certification for experienced professionals.
Third, all teaching should keep the focus on the learner. A true professional reflects on their practice using evidence of student learning. Consider the following question, "If students are not learning, then are you really teaching?"
N – National standards, universal language, professional organizations and reading helps.
B – Board of teachers, assessed by classroom teachers in your certificate area.
P – Professional integrity designed to uplift the education profession.
T – Teaching effectively with a focus on the learners.
S – Standards and criteria that are published
The Arkansas sponsored national board support site at UCA for 2016-2017 will meet as follows.
November 19 .... Mashburn 103 9am-noon
December 10 .... Mashburn 103 9am-noon
January 14 ..... *Mashburn 234 9am-noon
February 4 ....... Mashburn 103 9am-noon
March 4 ........... Mashburn 234 9am-noon
April 15 ........... Mashburn 103 9am-noon
May 13 ............ Mashburn 103 9am-noon