What Is A National Board Certification?
National Board Certification is an extension of a typical teaching certification. It can be earned after 3 years of teaching experience.
It is unique in that many school districts view it as similar to getting another degree like your masters degree.
Two years ago I opened my inbox to discover an e-mail about applying to receive a National Board Certification. Due to the mass delivery & format of this e-mail, I am sure this is one I had received many times before in the past years but for some reason on this typical afternoon, it caught my eye. Honestly, I didn’t know much about the National Board Teaching Certification other than a few of my colleagues had completed the certification process, it was a way to expand credentials, & my district valued the program more than they do a Masters Degree. We all know that, as teachers, there is so much to do & so little time. So, without researching the program, thus not having any clue what it would actually be like, I applied. I mean…why not, right? Well, I completed the program this May & I can honestly say it was well worth it for all teachers. Whether you’ve been teaching for a few years or for what feels like a life time; whether teaching comes naturally for you, as it does for me; or you feel like you need some guidance; this professional development opportunity offers something for everyone. I will offer 1 caveat – it is more time consuming than one might initially think.
Here is my view of what you can expect to get out of the National Board program…
what you can expect to get out of the national board program
1. You will learn something.
Whether freshening up your knowledge about who researched/created the best practice instructional strategies you use in your classroom, the actual professional names of the instructional strategies you use, or a better instructional strategy you can incorporate into your repertoire you are sure to learn something you can take into your classroom.
2. Find a TRIBE.
Your district probably has a group that they put together to support each other during the process. If not, reach out to your HR/professional development department & suggest one! No matter how confident you are in your teaching, make sure you find a tribe of teachers who have already gone through the process successfully. They can mentor you and read over your submissions. I cannot suggest enough – take their advice. If they tell you you may want to redo it with a different lesson, I would strongly consider it. They know how long & time consuming the process is. They won’t recommend a change unless they felt it is imperative.
3. Be Open Minded.
Personally, I found the writing to be one of the challenges because of the length constraints. The way I had to write in order to meet the constraints was so different than the way I had always been taught to write – my typical writing style. Basically, just write. Don’t try to write a beautiful, eloquent introduction with a lot of background information, just get to the point. The phrase “I did ____ because ____” will be your go to girl.
4. You will gain confidence.
Teaching has always come very naturally to me. Thus, I’ve never really lacked confidence. That being said, a lot of the National Board process is proving what type of teacher you are. After going through the National Board process, I was surprised by how much more confident I felt in my point of views on teaching and child development. Especially during meetings with administrators, parents, & colleagues. Even if teaching doesn’t come naturally to you, the amount that you will learn through the process will increase your confidence.
Bottom Line: Working to achieve your National Board Certification is definitely a worthwhile professional development opportunity!
Here’s my challenge–apply to begin your National Board Certification. It will be time consuming but will improve your teaching practices! Have questions? Feel free to ask in the comments below or message us from our Contact Page.
