Tracey Bryant Stuckey

 Blog: Education Redefined

The Spooky Side of Standardized Testing

Oct 24, 2023

Continuing with my "Scary Trends in Education" series, let's talk about a trend that's been haunting our classrooms for far too long - the overemphasis on standardized testing. It's time to shine a light on a better way forward: the use of differentiated authentic assessment. And guess what? The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) has a secret weapon in Component 4 that can help us break free from this testing nightmare!

 The Standardized Testing Nightmare

 Ah, standardized testing - the stuff of nightmares for teachers and students alike. It's like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Sure, it might give us some data, but at what cost? We're talking stressed-out students, narrowed curricula, and a cookie-cutter approach to education. It's like trying to measure the depth of the ocean with a teaspoon. How does this prepare students for the real world? I don't think that many employers would be entertained by this. 

Enter Differentiated...

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Skeletons in the Closet: Why Teachers Struggle to Build Classroom Communities

Oct 16, 2023


Blog 2 in my "Scary Trends in Education" I'll delve into a topic that's often left in the shadows: why teachers sometimes find it challenging to build strong classroom communities and truly understand their students on a deeper level. It's like unearthing the skeletons in the closet of education, so let's get digging.

1. Overloaded Curricula: One of the most prominent skeletons in this closet is the pressure teachers face to cover extensive curricula within a limited time-frame. The race to meet educational standards and prepare students for standardized tests often leaves little room for community-building activities or getting to know students beyond their academic capabilities. Sadly, more and more of these are becoming scripted curricula, which leaves the teacher with no voice to teach. Instead, they become puppets in a scripted play.

2. Large Class Sizes: Imagine trying to connect with 30, 40, or even 50 students in a single class! Large class sizes can be overwhelming, making...

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Tackling the Ghastly Teacher Attrition Crisis: Who Comes to the Rescue?

Oct 11, 2023

For the month of October, you will notice that my blogs will be a bit different than previous blogs and follow the "Scary Trends" in education topic.  This will be a fun way to "break the script" and cover some pretty scary, but relevant topics that affect us all as educators. Today, we're diving headfirst into a topic that has been haunting the hallways of schools across the nation - the ghastly teacher attrition crisis. But don't worry; it's not all gloom and doom... or is it?

The Spooky Situation

Picture this: You're in your high school math class, desperately trying to decipher the mysteries of algebra. But there's a twist. Your teacher is new this year, and she's already handed in her resignation letter. Yep, you heard it right - another teacher gone, leaving you and your classmates in the lurch.

The teacher attrition crisis is not just a local ghost story; it's a national nightmare. In recent years, the United States has been grappling with a teacher shortage crisis...

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Unlocking Summer Growth: Individualized Teacher Professional Development

Jun 23, 2023

COLUMBIA, S.C., June 23, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As teachers lock their classrooms for the final time of the year, educators embark on a well-deserved summer break! This is an opportune time to reflect on professional growth and development. Summer presents a unique opportunity for teachers to engage in individualized professional development (PD) that can transform their practice and prepare for the challenges and opportunities of the upcoming academic year.

Summer PD has a number of advantages including:

  1. Personalized Focus: Allowing teachers to customize their learning experience according to their specific needs, interests, and goals and be both relevant and impactful.
  2. Flexibility and Autonomy: Providing the freedom and flexibility to engage in professional learning at their own pace and on their own terms.
  3. Renewed Energy and Inspiration: Rejuvenate their passion for teaching by engaging in meaningful and individualized PD, to help fuel creativity and discover fresh...
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What is a National Board Certified Teacher?

Nov 14, 2022

What is a National Board Certified Teacher? 

A National Board Certified teacher is a teacher who has completed the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certification process and achieved the minimum score of weighted 110 after initial certification. National Board Certification is completely voluntary but is an advanced certification for PreK-12 educators that helps teachers identify teaching expertise through a performance-based, peer-reviewed assessment, which culminates in the four components of the Initial Certification and the two components for the Maintenance of Certification (MOC Process). 

The process is extremely rigorous and provides a lot of professional development for teachers going through the process. In fact, the certification process can be transformative to help establish the quintessential foundations of what accomplished teachers should be doing within their classrooms. Through this process, teachers embody the architecture of...

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What are the Four Components to the National Board Certification Process?

Oct 19, 2022

The National Board Certification process for teachers is broken up into what is called four components.

Component 1 National Board Certification is completed at a testing center via the computer where you are tested on your content knowledge and pedagogical practice from the National Board Certification certificate area that you have chosen to pursue. Now this probably isn't a test that you're used to. There are 45 multiple choice questions on a part of it that are called selected response items and then there are constructed response exercises which are a little bit more than like an essay question. Through Component 1 you will have the ability to study some sample scenarios and the content being scored. You will be able to practice the writing for Component 1 through the rubrics provided in the scoring section of the candidate guide.  Stimuli that you must look at and analyze for some prompts can sometimes be tricky for teachers to “off the cuff” analyze in a...

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Borrowing a Classroom for the NBPTS MOC Process

Oct 12, 2022

Borrowing a classroom for the NBPTS MOC process - are you thinking…

 

 Do I need to borrow a classroom for my NB MOC?

  • What type of classroom should I borrow for NBPTS MOC?
  • Will I be a bother for another teacher when I ask to borrow his/her class for my NBPTS renewal?

 

To complete the components for either the initial NBPTS certification process or the NBPTS MOC process, you must teach students within the age band dictated by that certificate area’s directions.  In addition, many certificate areas that are content specific require you to also teach lessons only in that content area.  

 Many times teachers have changed subject areas or grade levels during the period of time between NBPTS initial certification and NBPTS MOC renewal. This change requires them to find a classroom that follows the must haves for their initial certification area.  

 So, if you have found yourself in this situation know that borrowing a...

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6 Tips About National Board Teacher Certification for MOC Candidates

Oct 03, 2022

So for many teachers starting the MOC renewal process for NBPTS is a daunting tasks. PTSD from initial certification is still not that far gone, and the idea of having to start again is exasperating; especially given the circumstances with teacher workload and mandates being at an all time high. 

From my teacher coaching program for NBPTS, I have developed six of the top tips for National Board Teacher Certification for Maintenance of Certification (MOC).  I hope these six tips for NB MOC will help guide you as you begin the process of renewing your National Board certification! So let the top tips begin:

  1. Fully understand what a professional growth experience (PGE) is and what it is not.  Many teachers start by reading the manual for the National Board Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Process. This manual can be found on the NBPTS Website. The manual is 51 pages and is loaded with technical details that for many cause undue stress because of the technical breakdown...
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What makes National Board Certification Meaningful?

Sep 26, 2022

If you're asking yourself, “Is the National board teacher certification worth it?” I'm here to tell you - yes it is! 

 

 Through this process you'll become a diagnostic and reflective teacher. A teacher who understands the things that really matter to your students. You will become a professional that can diagnose the smallest needs and build from those needs to strengths. You will make adjustments in your instruction sooner and that adjustment will support your students in being able to dive deeper into their learning. 

 

Many U.S. states have initiatives that support teachers working toward National Board Certification.  These initiatives may include a pay raise for the advanced certification like doctors, speech pathologists and other professionals get when reaching their National certification level. For example, in 2022, Maryland unveiled a blueprint for bringing National Board Certified teachers to Maryland’s lowest performing...

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When is the Best Time to Start National Board Certification?

Sep 19, 2022

So you want to complete the National Board Certification process in one year or you may be saying when is the best time to start the National Board certification process if I want to complete it in one year? The short answer is it should be started as early as possible in the school year. Many teachers start working through the standards for the process in the summer before they actually begin the process and others learn the standards as they go along.

 

I’ve developed an Initial Certification Challenge to help you jumpstart into National Board Certification.  This three day per-recorded event will help you in getting started on National Board Certification and help you figure out when you should complete each component of the process. This challenge will take you through how the process works, how an assessor scores your portfolios and how to prepare to earn a passing score on each component for NBPTS.

 

I've also taken the time to create an NBPTS calendar of...

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