This week I attended a training workshop for National Board Certification. For three days, my brain was stuffed with information about what a teacher has to do in order to become National Board Certified. Between reading and analyzing standards to completing insane timed writing practice tests I’m pretty exhausted! However, I know it’s all going to be worth it.
Achieving National Board Certification means a lot more to me than simply having a few extra letters after my name. It’s about validating my teaching practices and considering how I can get even better in the classroom. Teaching isn’t about settling into the status quo. It’s about constantly learning and improving for the betterment of education as a whole.
After teaching for 13 years, I felt like I was starting to fall into a rut. The last thing I want is for my students to get stuck with a teacher who is stuck and wallowing in “been there, done that.”
I realized I needed to feel the excitement of discovery, again. I got a taste of that brand of excitement during the last school year when I was tasked with creating curriculum for AP Art History. That particular challenge got the adrenaline rolling again and now I’m thirsty for more.
With that experience in mind, National Board is sure to give me a major jolt! While the process is long and rigorous, I can’t wait to see what I learn about teaching, my process, and myself.
On the last day of training, I got a great piece of visual motivation to keep on my desk as I work. The organization that offered the training closed out the event by giving away a series of door prizes that only teachers could love. I should state that I never, ever win door prizes. So, I sat in my chair looking around the room trying to guess who would win. Then, they called my name for the first prize. Cool beans!
Here’s what I won:
I got the green one.
Is this nerdy? Yes, but I love, love, love tumblers with lids and straws. I will be using this thing every single day, which means it will be a great reminder of what I’m working for and that I have a great group of people supporting me as I jump into what is sure to be a challenging process.
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p.s. Don’t worry I’m still hard at work on the writing thing, too!
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c.b.w. 2014
C.B. Wentworth 
It all sounds so exciting. I can’t imagine you ever in a rut but I’m so glad you are feeling all this excitement and energy. Good luck. And Congratulations on the door prize.
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Teaching the same classes every year is the first step to falling in a rut! 😉 It happens to the best of us!
It’s going to be a lot of hard work, but I’m hoping it will be fun, too.
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Ha, ha! I love those things too! Is it a teacher thing? lol
Sounds like you have quite the adventure ahead of you! Can’t wait to hear more about it. 🙂
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It must be a teacher thing – we love anything that prevents spills!
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“p.s. Don’t worry I’m still hard at work on the writing thing, too!” – good!
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That’s one thing in which I’ll never let go!
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I have the utmost respect for teachers. It’s such an important job. Glad to hear you can fit your writing time in too. 🙂
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If I keep to a well-planned schedule, there’s time for everything I love to do! 🙂
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The people I know who went thru certification said it was amazingly challenging and also amazingly rewarding. Good luck on this adventure!
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They’ve changed the process so it isn’t so overwhelming, but I know it’s still going to be a challenge. I’m looking forward to it!
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