4:00-4:30 Reunion 4:30-4:40 Recalling the Journey 4:40-4:55 Reconnect and Respond 4:55-5:05 Releasing the Scores 5:05-5:20 Report Reading 101 5:20-5:40 Reflecting 5:40-6:00 Regrouping

Recalling the Journey

Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to great places! You’re off and away!

The BOX has arrived. Been unpacked, organized and carefully scrutinized. The safest place in the house is where it will reside, Until March 31 when it must to NBPTS ride.

You have brains in your head. You have shoes on your feet. You can charm any person You meet on the street.

You design lessons. Look ‘em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t want to go there.”

With your head full of brains, your shoes full of feet, your students in tow, you’re too smart to choose any not-so-good lesson you know.

And you may not find a lesson you’ll want to teach. In that case you’ll keep searching for the perfect piece.

Your search may take you “out of the box” to an unexplored “site” where plans you can plot. Where treasures await someone as brainy as you.

If you don’t find the treasure on day one, remember there is always day two, day three, and on and on...

If the treasure is elusive. Just keep on looking. You might just find it by searching in Google. Found it

Then you’ll be on your way. You’ll design a lesson that will teach EACH student standard one, standard two, standard three, standard four and more...

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. I’m rolling!

Wherever you fly, you’ll be be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’t. Because sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that bang-ups and hang-ups can happen to you.

You can get all hung up on a video or more. And while your cohort moves on, you’ll be left behind in entry four. Wait for me

And the chances are, then, that you’ll be in a slump. And when you’re in a slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.

You can get so confused that you might think “I can’t do it”. And you’ll visit a place that is totally useless!

The Waiting Place

Waiting for time to stop. Waiting for forms to be signed. Waiting for inspiration to strike. Waiting for winter break.

Waiting while time passes. Waiting and procrastinating in the “Waiting Place.”

Waiting for the cohort meeting, or waiting for Sunday night, or waiting for election day, or the perfect lesson plan, or another chance to film again. Everyone is just waiting in the The Waiting Place

NO! That’s not for you! Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where inspiration is waiting.

Remember where help can be found and support always abounds in the portfolio directions and the Frequently Asked Questions. The listserv and TEACH are always within easy reach and don’t forget...

Your two “critical” friends and colleagues. Family is last but certainly NOT LEAST!

No more waiting! Oh, the places you’ll go. There are decisions to make. There are lessons to design, classes to be taped and forms to be signed.

Not to mention the student work samples to Select, Describe, Analyze. Then... Reflect on your craft and you will soar, you bet!

There are points to be counted. There is a certificate to be earned.

And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! 275 points guaranteed. You’ll be NB certified and nationally bona fide.

And the magical things you can do. The certificate will make you and your students the winning-est winners of all. Students will learn from you how to read, write, think and calculate.

Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

"If we teach as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow. "-- John Dewey. "Who dares to teach must never cease to learn.”-- John Cotton Dana

Complete the Reconnect and Respond activity.Reconnect and Respond

Between now and the time the scores are released, download the NBPTS Scoring Guide. You will be better prepared to understand your scores.NBPTS Scoring Guide.

Before you look at your scores, read the letter you wrote to yourself when you completed the process. Reflect on those thoughts and the reconnect and respond exercise you completed this evening.

NBPTS will send an to all candidates a day or two before the scores are released. In 2006 the scores were posted on December 13. In 2007 the scores were posted on November 9. In 2008 the scores will be released before December 31.

In the past, the scores have been posted about 9:00 A.M. EST.

It is highly recommended that you check your scores in the privacy of your home or in your classroom after school. If you just can not wait, do not check your scores in the presence of students. Regardless of your scores, your mind will not be focused on the students that day.

The from NBPTS will provide instructions on how to get your scores. In the past, candidates have received their scores by accessing “My Profile” You will need your candidate ID number.

WeightExercise Score Uniform Constant Total Score Scaled Score Exercise

It is not appropriate to post scores on the NBC-Support listserv. All candidates need to be sensitive to the feelings of teachers who do not achieve in 2008.

Scores can be appealed, but it is costly and the chances of having a score changed is very low. Keep in mind, this is a three year process.

Every teacher who completes this process is an accomplished teacher.

Reflect on your scores: Are you surprised by any score you earned on an entry? Why are you surprised?

Reread your entries and reflect on your work using the Notetaking Guide Scoring Guide Rubrics Assess your entry using the Breaking Down the Entry worksheet. Breaking Down the Standards worksheet.

Reflect on your journey and regroup. Give yourself time to reflect and analyze your work, then bank your scores. You have until the end of January to make a decision. Decide what you are willing to redo. There may be one entry or assessment center exercise you are not willing to retake.

When you are ready, let Terry or your META representative know your status. You will not be contacted until NBPTS releases the names of the new NBCTs. NBCT mentors will provide support immediately or whenever you are ready. A list of mentors will be provided.

What’s next for advanced candidates? A listserv has been established ONLY for advanced candidates On January 15: The advanced candidates will meet to learn about the META Advanced Candidate Cohort. Advanced candidates will meet with an advisor who will assist them in establishing a retake strategy.

Preparing for My Scores Protocol 3 Things all candidates learn about themselves and their teaching by going through the National Board certification process. 2 Things I need to be sensitive about with colleagues who do not achieve in the first year. 1 Thing I most want to keep in mind if I have to bank my scores.

Works Cited Bad Day : The String Quartet Tribute to Daniel Powter. Vitamin String Quartet Flashdance (What A Feeling). Various Artists Screen Beans from 15 Oct Seuss, Dr.. Oh, the Places You'll Go. New York: Random House, Inc., 1990.