Good Teachers May Need Your Help

Good teachers may not have had extensive experience working with diverse student populations and may not realize the importance of an emphasis on including the students’ cultural context into the instructional design. National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) is part of a national effort to provide appropriate education for all students.

Many of the teacher evaluation instruments used across the country focus on what an evaluator sees in the classroom – the “What” in teaching. Good teachers may not realize the importance of recording the details under girding the instructional decisions they make – the “Why” in teaching.

Many of the teachers who choose to pursue NBPTS certification are the same teachers who willingly take on the extra activities and responsibilities that provide a rich learning environment for others in their educational community. Good teachers must be encouraged to carve out time in their schedule to complete the process.

Some teachers work in departmental teaching assignments and may not have had experience with integrated learning strategies. When content is integrated across traditional disciplines students develop richer, more meaningful skills and knowledge.

Many states focus on student accountability and in some areas that has been translated into test driven teaching strategies. If teachers focus on leaning that is intellectually challenging and meaningful to the students, the tests will take care of themselves.

There is writing involved in completing the assessment process. Completing some entries as practice before actually applying for the assessment may help teachers feel more comfortable about the assessment process.

Reflective writing is an essential element in assessment process. What teachers learn about their students, the way students learn, the teaching / learning process and themselves as professionals in an integral part of the documentation they will provide as evidence of Accomplished Teaching.

Some teachers are afraid to talk about their participating in the NBPTS assessment. The directions and activities are so complex; it is difficult for a teacher to be successful if he/ she works in isolation.

Collaboration among teachers and other professionals often limited by school structure, time and teacher isolation yet is NBPTS Standard of accomplished teaching. Teachers grow and benefit from collegial relationships formed during the process.