Thoughts on National Board Certification

National Board Certification was the Best Experience of any professional development ever- and it continues to this day!  I must say I went into it a little blind.  I was asked by a good friend and competitor... (ok, so at my high school we always have competitions... when I first started and was the newbie we did door decorating contests... it was Halloween and my kids did not only decorate the door, but pretty much the whole wall, we used all the Elements and Principles of Art and I thought I was cheating a little.  When I saw this other teacher's door... My. Jaw. Dropped.  White picket fence extending 1/3rd into the hall, fog machine, the works... awesomeness.  She won first.  I lost for several years after that, until I was fed up the year I was writing my National Board Entries when we did a Penny War... and war it was. She has since moved to another school, and completions are not the same... missing my buddy!)

Back to topic... so I was like, ok, well I wanted to get my Master's, but don't have the money...I work at a Title One school and can get scholarships... how bad can this be?  I asked the other art teacher if she would do it with me, and she agreed... we were buddies so we held hands and jumped. Mind you I'm pregnant with my second child at this time.

Our district offered a Precandidacy course... in which I missed the first class as I was on Maternity leave... but then Missy and I continued to go to the monthly classes and attempted to do the homework... We videotaped...and wrote the first two entries. Oh man were my tapes bad.  In one taping after giving instructions, I ask "Are there any questions?" A kid raises his hand. I turn around bend over and stick my butt in the camera's direction.  The kid, knowing he's on camera, slyly takes his raised arm and puts his hand in his hair to smooth it out, ending in a rest on arm position.  Rico suave... and I just filmed myself being the worst teacher ever.  At the time I was department chair, and played it as an example of what not to do- we all had an excellent time laughing so hard we cried.  I learned that taping my teaching practice is an extremely powerful tool.  How on earth do my kids ever make anything?  I was not clear... not consistent and certainly not convincing..... 

In Precandidacy I also learned what the prompts did not intend to ask.... there is a part about knowledge of students... I took this to mean I needed to interview each of them... really? And teach an engaging lesson every day? Amelia Bedilia I tell you!  I don't know why it didn't dawn on me, because I know this then... knowing our students is very important...it does not mean interviews... it does mean greeting them each day, getting a sense for their personality/ demeanor, mood... knowing when something is off.  Build that rapport with kids.  Know when they are not well, sick, hungry... ask them how they are doing.  They will tell you.  Sometimes things you wish you had not heard. (Because it breaks your heart, or you are a mandatory reporter, or you can't fix it- like their mom just died.) But you are the adult in their life that is happy they are in school, you are glad to see them, and they know it.  Even if you do turn around and ignore their questions- they will forgive you.

After I figured out that I knew nothing about what I was being asked to write about, and I had no clue what to do... yet at the same time I knew exactly what I should do and had every intention of doing it amazingly... (ever been there?) I signed up to be an assessor for entries.  Woah.  I had to wean my son, and drive for an hour each way... five days a week during the summer to do this.  But I wanted it bad, and they provided a good lunch. The training was intense, I felt at times like I was a failure, I had not a clue what to do... but I did well in my testing...then we scored... and had to retest every week to align ourselves to the rubric. This was the most helpful.  I was able to see what final products looked like... just how they were typed, presented, that type of thing.  I became really familiar with the rubric and the scoring process.  I was amazed by how many fantastic teachers submitted entries... amazing lessons... and I had the honor to touch their papers.  The scoring process was EYE OPENING- and really the first time that I truly understood the questions and the purpose of National Board Certification.  Plus I met amazing people that I am still in contact with and learning from.

"The Entry questions are so Vague. The are confusing, they are open, what do they want?" National Board wants to see YOU as a teacher.  What do YOU do? Since each of us is different the questions will be open, they will mean slightly different things in each classroom environment and for each student.  How do you impact each learner in your classroom though all four entries? And that is it.  If you think this blog is wordy- imagine my entries... each was like 22 pages... I cut and cut and cut.  I went through and highlighted parts that aligned with the rubrics to help me figure out where the rich juicy meat was in my writing. 

At this point, I feel it necessary to mention if you are a candidate and other people know this, it seems like they will remind you about how most don't make it their first year.  I cannot tell you how many times, I was told that.  It's like if you are trying to lose weight ( which I was, I had a baby) and people come up to you and say, oh you can't have this __________(insert whatever delicious item) because you are on a diet. Keep in mind that they THINK that they are being supportive, even though it does not come off this way. I am pretty sure that they don't want you to be totally crushed (which you probably will be- it is normal and okay- and no one's words will probably make you feel better) if you do not make it the first time.  It's really an odd situation- just needed to insert this warning for any potential candidates.... once I figured it out... instead of being offended by these people, I tried to end these conversations with a perspective of compassion.

I hate being filmed! My grandmother had a camcorder when I was a kid- so everything was filmed.  Pulling into her driveway, the dinner spread, eating, EVERYTHING. I was young and awkward... then we had to watch it.  She was proud and gleaming over her beautiful family while I wanted to sink into the carpet- so many potential tapes for America's Funniest Home Videos. Traumatized.  Because of this trauma I did not have a videographer at our wedding- something I am starting to regret now. (starting to, but not fully there yet)  So videotaping for NB was scary.  And really bad at first.  If the sound worked the lens cap was on.  Or if kids were having great conversations, they lined up and blocked the camera view with their backs... or the view was awesome, but no sound.... Or everything was great and several students are having a really off day. (Actually very enlightening for them to watch the tape.  Student says "I was on task the whole time." and believes this.  Show tape- "oh, I guess I thought I was, but now I see why I never finish anything.")  Equally as enlightening for me as the teacher to watch, for the same reasons.  I was able to see where I was vague, or inconsistent... did not follow up... As painful as it is, and while you may first think, that you will never wear that outfit again, really watch yourself.  Watch.  What did you do that was great? Why did you do it? Make those choices consistently.

I also had the benefit of support.  I attended workshops and retreats held by the AZ K 12 Center, I had a cohort group that met once a month in my district.  And most importantly the other art teacher right next door was doing it with me.  We cried together, celebrated together, went to workshops together, scored during the summer together.... we wrote practice test questions for the assessment center for each other and then timed ourselves answering them.  We did it by supporting each other.   On the advice of a good friend who did NB with her friend, never share your scores with each other.  That can destroy a friendship.  We have not shared our scores with each other, and never will.  We promised each other that if we did not achieve, we would bank what we could and re-do whatever was needed.  If one passed, and the other did not... the Passer would act like a cheerleader.  We actually met two friends like us who did not achieve their first year and were supporting each other through year two.  They were an inspiration.  Thankfully we both passed... however...no matter what we support the other one.

Assessment Center... What 6 more tests?  I wish I would have realized about these a little earlier.... like the summer before.... I would have been watching every art video I could get my hands on... Sister Wendy, PBS.... Annotated Mona Lisa I think it's called.... So you really just need to know everything about art. Simple as that. Method, technique, movement, theory, artists, history, region.... and be prepared to write on that topic for 30 minutes. (So that's not really a problem for me...)

Waiting... after you send it off and complete the Assessments find something to busy your hands.... the waiting has begun.  It's June, November will not be here soon enough... go practice yoga.

Not matter what the result, if you did or do this process you are stronger for it.  You are a better teacher.  Your are more systematic and reflective.  If you achieve after year one, awesome... if not... try again.  I actually missed the process. Crazy I know.  So Missy and I trained in the Pre-candidacy curriculum and also trained to become Candidate Support Providers.  We have run PDs at our site and supported candidates though their individual journeys.  No matter what though... you are an awesome amazing teacher... if you have not done this... look into it.....  This has changed my teaching profoundly.  And really it comes down to one simple phrase... (all this for one phrase? this girl is nuts!)  It's taken a lot to understand this phrase... and really I'm still deepening my understanding of it.... I have not reached educational nirvana...yet... maybe one day.

Because I know.... I do...... which impacts students by........

Architecture Tiles

Ok, so here goes, my first blog post... we shall see.  I was on Pinterest when I stumbled upon another teacher that was doing architecture tiles... and I thought, "Hey that is super awesome!"  I want to do that in my room... hence a summer of pinning architecture images, annoying my hubby with my hours of image hoarding and confusing my friends with my sudden interest in a wide variety of architecture begun.  And I must say the results of the hours of planning were pretty fair. 

Check out the iMovie... (next year this will be used as a trailer for the lesson)
Architecture Tile iMovie

At this point- I am unsure if I just insert the entire lesson plan here.... I will be deciding.  I'd like to share the PowerPoint's with anyone interested but there are 10 of them.... and because they are images they are huge....  Really not intending to sound rude I do not have time to e-mail them upon every request; but I would like to make them available for teachers to use so you don't have to go through the hours of copy and pasting images so you can print them as resources for students. (If you are a teacher and are reading this- I am sure you understand. Especially if you are and art teacher. )  Let's be realistic only teacher really understand that we have no extra time... ok and their spouses.  When I mentioned starting a blog.... my husband looked at me like I had gone nuts.... "Yeah hun, with what time?"  All the extra time it seems I have here on New Years Eve.   

Edit on 1/2/14: Let's see how this works- I've saved these to Google Docs, and embedded a link... Cheers!  If maybe one person out there could try to open these, and comment if it worked or not, that would be super helpful.  I can open them fine... but it that because I own the document?  Thank you.

Lesson Plan  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByayVUBQWw2JVnRaQkFGX2szT2M/edit?usp=sharing

Student Work Samples for Day Two activity   https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByayVUBQWw2JT2hnZmtvSXY1MXc/edit?usp=sharing

Image File 1 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByayVUBQWw2JWTdienFpc0JTWW8/edit?usp=sharing

Image File 2 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByayVUBQWw2JdXRDN05KaVJpN2M/edit?usp=sharing

Image File 3 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByayVUBQWw2JZnVJTEozc1Q5Y00/edit?usp=sharing

Image File 4 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByayVUBQWw2JeGJvbVFvem1DUGM/edit?usp=sharing

Image File 5 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByayVUBQWw2JVGMzYWVjaFlJQlE/edit?usp=sharing

Image File 6  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByayVUBQWw2JOTMwWmdMRTg0Zkk/edit?usp=sharing

Image File 7  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByayVUBQWw2JS0FvOTJ1aG1FelE/edit?usp=sharing

Image File 8  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByayVUBQWw2JM1FLU0ltNk9OVVE/edit?usp=sharing

Image File 9 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByayVUBQWw2JUXRsbEhjNGdQU2s/edit?usp=sharing

Image File 10  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByayVUBQWw2JMlZHY3ExOTNWZGc/edit?usp=sharing

Family Critique  https://drive.google.com/file/d/0ByayVUBQWw2JQmd5Y2pGNHBITTQ/edit?usp=sharing


Update 11/6/16 I'm getting ready to do this lesson again.. I have just made three copies of each image. When tracing the kids do rip the paper when it becomes wet from the clay.  I am also going to emphasize textures.  I hate say you must do at least... X number of textures.... the kids you are really motivated do not need a number and the ones who are ot motivated and who do just the minimum to get by do need this number.  I'm thinking that I will say 4 for an A, 3 B, 2 C. Obviously there will be some wiggle room.  The other key is to emphasize subtractive carving methods to create a low relief tile... this is not a sandwich.