Education Redefined

Promoting equity and diversity in the classroom need not be a challenge and is something all children deserve.

• Use a variety of teaching methods to reach all modalities-- auditory, visual, and kinesthetic.
• Use a variety of assessment strategies to meet the testing needs of all students
• Use adaptive equipment and strategies as needed to meet all learner needs (large print, visuals, ect...)
• Set clear rules in regard to treating others fairly and equitably.
• Encourage students to take on roles (that showcases their strengths) in heterogeneous cooperative groups.
• Build a classroom community grounded in the principles of a democracy.
• Avoid stereotypes and support gender neutrality in examples and resources.
• Actively support multiculturalism in your lessons and the resources you use.
• Ensure all students have equitable access to opportunities, resources, and participation that encourage growth and success.
• Plan lessons that reflect the diversity of students in your classroom.

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There are many reasons why teachers going through the NBPTS Renewal or MOC process reach out for support:

1. Templates or Examples
2. Like-minded individuals to bounce ideas
3. Support with reading components for clarity
4. A guide on the side to ensure success

Whatever reason brought you to this place, you are in the right place for support.

While most teachers LOVE the Renew Like a Pro course because of the results they gain from the step by step process that makes it fast and easy, some teachers want more individualized attention with a direct line to me – the coach!  A direct line me, your guide on the side, means:

• I read and advise through every component step by step
• I am accessible through phone, one on one Zoom meetings, FB Messenger, text, and email at a moment’s notice.
• My commitment of time and energy to you is unlimited.

Although becoming a VIT (Very Important Teacher) costs more, it is worth the investment if TIME is an issue for you.  The...

Here we sit in the middle of the longest renewal season in the history of the National Board for Professional Teaching.  In fact, the 2019-2020 season will actually last for one year and eight months.  And I’m sure this has many of you who took the opportunity to defer to an October submission or a May 2021 submission wondering, “Where am I in the process?” 

I started off strong in the winter of 2020 and then BAM… Covid-19 turned my world upside down.  I was too overwhelmed with the transition to virtual instruction to think about renewal. 

You are asking yourself:

1. Do I really need a course to help me since I have completed over half of the process before I chose to defer?
2. Do I really need a coach when I do not even know what my questions are?
3. Do I have the time or energy to redo (tweak) what I have already accomplished in this renewal process?
4. Do I think I can submit this renewal portfolio by October 2020 or May 2021 when my school...

Well folks… we are entering into a new era!  It’s Maintenance of Certification time at the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and this means only one thing – many of you are probably nervous about the changes and wondering what may be in store for you through this new process.

For me, these changes are exciting!  After more than 20 years working with candidates (and the last ten years focusing exclusively on renewal candidates), I know how empowering the renewal process (and now Maintenance of Certificate) is for a teacher’s professional development.  Oh, the things you learn about yourself and the new impacts you will make on student learning are amazing!

So, to help you on this journey I thought the best place to start would be to compare the old versus the new. As you all know, the rubric is your road map to success in the MOC process.  You meet the bullets, you maintain certification.  You do not meet the bullets;...

NBPTS Renewal is stressful, but especially so during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Take a look below to watch the Zoom Webinar from 03/23/2020. This will hopefully provide a little bit of clarity during these uncharted and stressful times!

To many of my readers the idea of a parking lot is not a new strategy.  I’m sharing this idea with you as a professional organizational tool more than a classroom pedagogical tool for the sake of this blog entry.  There is so much information that must flow from your brain to paper to complete the PPG Renewal portfolio for NBPTS.  This visual will be an asset for you to “park” your thoughts, ideas, and reflect daily.  It covers all the areas that most candidates feel overwhelmed in throughout the process.  Let’s unpack this document to see how it could help you.

1. Questions – Each time you have a question about anything related to the process, park it in the upper left quadrant until you can get to your renewal coach or into your support groups/cohorts.
2. Like – Each time you “like” an idea that you believe fits within your story or choice of videotaped lesson/s, post the link in the upper right-hand quadrant...

Learner work samples are a powerful way to showcase your breadth and depth as a teacher.  Don’t get me wrong, videos are great, but work samples have tremendous analytical value.  So, let’s answer the two most popular questions surrounding learner work samples. 

Can learners be different from the students I teach? 

YES! Learners in component 3 can be adults, such as parents, childcare assistants, mentees, colleagues, and even administrators. Learners can also be students that are outside of the certificate area you first certified in 8-10 years ago.  Learners can also be the students you currently teach.

Furthermore, how do you choose powerful samples? 

Choosing powerful learner work samples is easy.  All you need to remember is they must pass the analysis test.  The sample must be able to answer any question that begins with WHY, HOW, or IN WHAT WAYS relative to the goal written for the assignment and your teaching...

VIDEO TIPS TO PROVE IMPACT ON STUDENT LEARNING

The number one mission that you are on while completing the Profile for Professional Growth (Renewal process for NBPTS) is to prove you are impacting student learning.   The best way to show proof of this is through your videotaped lessons in Component 2 and 3. 

Are you fretting over the video process?

Do you feel like you don’t know where to begin planning for the perfect videotaped lesson that showcases you depth and breadth as a master teacher?

If you answered yes to either of these questions, you must take the time to work through my free course titled Video Like a Pro. 

             ---------------CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW-------------------

*** This course was filmed pre-COVID-19. While some of the strategies changed, the video tips and planning has not.***

Here my friend is the 24-million-dollar question that almost every NBPTS candidate asks themselves at one point or another during the portfolio process! The questions seem vague and repetitive it first glance.  Then you realize what it truly is they want you to do.  NBPTS wants you to unpack the question to fit your situation.  We are all different.  Our student population is not the same, and our professional experiences are unique to the communities we serve.  Therefore, you must tackle the written commentary portion of NBPTS with the lens of a doctor.  Let’s look at any example of how this would look.

First questions in a written commentary set are descriptive in nature.  THINK & WRITE DESCRIPTIVELY!

The doctor asks: “Describe to me your symptoms and what you have done so far to solve this health problem.” 

The teacher asks: “What is/or has been my current teaching/learning situation and what do my learners look...

In this post I will be discussing the third and final writing style that will prove your ability to reflect on your teaching and students’ learning in a deep and meaningful way.  This writing style will show convincing evidence to prove your ability to significantly impact student learning through your practice. 

In Components 2 and 3, plus the reflection, reflective writing is used as a “thought process” that must be engaged in after each teaching or growth experience.   Through your reflection, you will determine how you would approach similar situations in the future and what changes you would likely make to improve the experience for your learners. This reflective writing is extremely important for the assessor to understand how you will use what you have learned from your lessons and PGEs to inform and improve your teaching in the future.

I know what you are saying now, how do I know the difference in whether the NBPTS wants me to write...