Starting with the end: Entry 4

When I first began actually working on National Board, I started with Entry 4, mostly because it seemed like the easiest place to start. Entry 4 is the only entry that is the same for all candidates, regardless of the certificate that you pursue. When you first begin looking at this entry, it's very easy to think you know exactly what you are doing. However, once you begin to write the entries and then pause or go back and reread, you begin to doubt yourself a bit. You wonder if your accomplishments are good enough or "worthy" of inclusion in your entry.

One thing I have learned through the process so far and through all of the reading I have is that it has absolutely nothing to do with you! This is not the "brag" entry. It isn't where you show everyone how freaking fabulous you are and show off your fabulocity.

Nope. It's all about the kids. Just like the rest of the portfolio. Even though it's glaringly obvious if you really read the entry directions...a lot of people struggle on this one because we want to be proud of what we have done. I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination as I am only a first-time candidate. However, I know that when I first started my Entry 4 writing, I had a lot of stuff that focused more on me than the kids. So revision will happen in a big way. I have already made some changes as I've gone along, but it's amazing how much your thinking changes the more you read, the more you reflect and the more you really dig into this process.

The three categories of accomplishments are: Partnering with Families and Community, Teacher as Learner and Teacher as Leader. Over the summer, I was positive I knew exactly what accomplishments I was going to use (because they can be from the last 5 years except for the Partner with Families which needs to be from the current school year). As I have written, reflected, revised and gathered my evidence, however, I have realized that I have more to say about some things and less about others. My priorities have changed. My thinking has changed.

I think this is all part of the process. You really learn to reflect, to internalize what you are doing and WHY you are doing it and ultimately think about WHY and HOW it has made a difference for kids. It's all about the student impact.

I have put aside my Entry 4 for the moment as I am the type of person who needs to let things ruminate a bit...but I know that this was still a good place to me to begin. As I go through the last 3 months of this part of the NB process, I have a clearer and more focused vision in terms of how I want myself represented on paper and how I want the student impact to shine through in my writing.

As I push forward with Entry 2, I have all of the new knowledge I have gained and learned as I've worked on Entry 4. To me, it is much easier to mess up Entry 4 and make huge changes than learn those lessons halfway or three quarters of the way through the "meatier" entries of 1, 2 and 3.

The Beginning: How I Started

When I began this journey, I decided to work on my entries kind of haphazardly. To me, the most important thing about this process is finding the spot to begin that works the best for YOU.

I downloaded all of the directions, entry notes and everything else I felt was pertinent to this process over the summer. I actually spent time at my cabin reading through some of it (even though right now it kind of feels like I've only just started the whole process!). I found this was SUPER helpful when it came time for me to really think about a schedule for tackling this process. I actually printed out a calendar for myself and just made some tentative notes with deadlines and goals. It isn't to say that this stuff hasn't all changed -- because most of it has -- but the act of planning it out has made it much easier to follow through on it and stay somewhat on track.

I took advice I had read somewhere (more than likely at Angela Watson's NB page at The Cornerstone for Teachers) to do the videos early in the process. I am SO glad that I did that because now I have the rest of my time to focus on my writing. I have spent just as much time READING about National Board as I have WORKING on National Board. For me, this is essential. Working on undergrad and master's degrees back to back really showed me the kind of learner that I am. I NEED to know as much as possible about something in order to really process what I need to do to meet the expectations.

So I have read blogs, internet forums, yahoo groups, etc about the process. Some honestly aren't all that helpful. They basically repeat what National Board has on their website. If I find it truly helpful or life changing, I bookmark it. I have a folder saved right to my taskbar called "National Board" and all of my NB links are in there, easily found in one place. It is super helpful.

Additionally, I got myself organized. Since I downloaded the directions for multiple certificates as I was trying to decide which one to work on, I read through them online to save paper. Once I decided on the EMC-Literacy certificate, I printed all of the portfolio directions, the evaluation guides, the scoring information and anything else pertinent to helping me through the process. I put it all into a big binder with tabs so I can quickly and easily find what I need if I'm looking for information.






Then I got myself an expandable file that had 12 slots in it. I use 3 for each entry. One for the directions, one for any artifacts or resources (ie student work samples) and one for a working copy or other readings that I might need to use for that entry. It has been super helpful because I can carry around this smaller expandable file and my iPad and not have to carry the big binder (my iPad can slip into the front of the expandable and both can slip right into my briefcase or tote.





Most recently I have read this book:





It is written by a fabulous lady who is also a big time poster at ecgen.org. It is packed with info and honestly it is one of the reasons why I kind of feel like I've just started. This is not bad. I actually appreciate it. Bobbie makes you think, gives you concrete advice and FORCES YOU to examine what you thought you knew. It is not bad. I just wish that I had had my hot little hands on that book earlier in my journey. But it is okay. I am not behind and I have no need to panic (and yes I have to tell myself this constantly because it is SO easy
to get yourself freaked out with the amount of work to be done.

While focusing on videotaping for most of the fall, I also started putting together information for Entry 4. I think I have a good start. However, after reading through some forums at ecgen.org and Bobbie's book, I decided to put that one to the side for a week or so. I need to let my info "marinade" in the back of my mind a bit and then look at the work with fresh eyes. Then I will revise it, ship it off to a reader and go from there.

Currently I am immersing myself in Entry 2 which for the EMC Literacy is Constructing Meaning through Reading. I burned my DVD today. I have my instructional context mostly ready and am working on the planning portion of the writing. I am going to watch and rewatch my video and make some notes so that I can be better focused when I go back to the writing. I will post more about how I am working through that process.