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The 2003-2005 Education World Teacher Diary
View diaries from previous years: 2002-03 Reflections on Teaching and Learning Diaries 2001-02 First-Year Teacher & Mentor Diaries 2000-2001 First-Year Teacher Diaries Our five teacher diarists for the 2003-05 school year are:

Stephanie Blackburn Middle Childhood Generalist Stephanie Capalbo Early Childhood Generalist Aug 1, 2003 Aug 18, 2003 Sept 8, 2003 Sept 22, 2003 Oct 6, 2003 Oct 20, 2003 Nov 3, 2003 Nov 17, 2003 Dec 1, 2003 Dec 15, 2003 Jan 12, 2004 Jan 26, 2004 Feb 9, 2004 Feb 23, 2004 Mar 15, 2004 Aug 8, 2003 Aug 25, 2003 Sept 15, 2003 Sept 29, 2003 Oct 13, 2003 Oct 27, 2003 Nov 10, 2003 Nov 24, 2003 Dec 8, 2003 Jan 5, 2004 Jan 19, 2004 Feb 2, 2004 Feb 16, 2004 Mar 1, 2004 May 17, 2004 January 24, 2005 Aug 1, 2003 Aug 18, 2003 Sept 8, 2003 Sept 22, 2003 Oct 6, 2003 Oct 20, 2003 Nov 3, 2003 Nov 17, 2003 Dec 1, 2003 Dec 15, 2003 Jan 12, 2004 Jan 26, 2004 Feb 9, 2004 Feb 23, 2004 Mar 22, 2004 Aug 8, 2003 Aug 25, 2003 Sept 15, 2003 Sept 29, 2003 Oct 13, 2003 Oct 27, 2003 Nov 10, 2003 Nov 24, 2003 Dec 8, 2003 Jan 5, 2004 Jan 19, 2004 Feb 2, 2004 Feb 16, 2004 Mar 1, 2004 May 24, 2004 January 03 , 2005 Nicole Chiarello Exceptional Needs Specialist Elizabeth Scheibl Middle Childhood Generalist Aug 1, 2003 Aug 18, 2003 Sept 8, 2003 Sept 22, 2003 Oct 6, 2003 Oct 20, 2003 Nov 3, 2003 Nov 17, 2003 Dec 1, 2003 Dec 15, 2003 Jan 12, 2004 Jan 26, 2004 Feb 9, 2004 Feb 23, 2004 Mar 29, 2004 Aug 8, 2003 Aug 25, 2003 Sept 15, 2003 Sept 29, 2003 Oct 13, 2003 Oct 27, 2003 Nov 10, 2003 Nov 24, 2003 Dec 8, 2003 Jan 5, 2004 Jan 19, 2004 Feb 2, 2004 Feb 16, 2004 Mar 1, 2004 May 10, 2004 January 31, 2005 Aug 1, 2003 Aug 18, 2003 Sept 8, 2003 Sept 22, 2003 Oct 6, 2003 Oct 20, 2003 Nov 3, 2003 Nov 17, 2003 Dec 1, 2003 Dec 15, 2003 Jan 12, 2004 Jan 26, 2004 Feb 9, 2004 Feb 23, 2004 Apr 5, 2004 Aug 8, 2003 Aug 25, 2003 Sept 15, 2003 Sept 29, 2003 Oct 13, 2003 Oct 27, 2003 Nov 10, 2003 Nov 24, 2003 Dec 8, 2003 Jan 5, 2004 Jan 19, 2004 Feb 2, 2004 Feb 16, 2004 Mar 1, 2004 Apr 26, 2004 January 17, 2005 Jennifer Sinotte Exceptional Needs Specialist   Aug 1, 2003 Aug 18, 2003 Sept 8, 2003 Sept 22, 2003 Oct 6, 2003 Oct 20, 2003 Nov 3, 2003 Nov 17, 2003 Dec 1, 2003 Dec 15, 2003 Jan 12, 2004 Jan 26, 2004 Feb 9, 2004 Feb 23, 2004 Apr 12, 2004 Aug 8, 2003 Aug 25, 2003 Sept 15, 2003 Sept 29, 2003 Oct 13, 2003 Oct 27, 2003 Nov 10, 2003 Nov 24, 2003 Dec 8, 2003 Jan 5, 2004 Jan 19, 2004 Feb 2, 2004 Feb 16, 2004 Mar 1, 2004 May 3, 2004 Jan 10, 2005

In this era of accountability, the issue of teacher quality looms large. What exactly is a quality teacher? What knowledge and skills do quality teachers possess? How does one objectively measure teacher quality? How can educators improve the quality of their own teaching?

Many schools, districts, and states have turned to criteria developed by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards for an answer to those questions. For 10 years, the NBPTS, "an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization governed by a 63-member board of directors, the majority of whom are classroom teachers," has been offering teachers the opportunity to assess, improve, and demonstrate their quality by completing the requirements for NBPT Certification.

In order to attain National Board Certification, teachers must complete a rigorous process in which their content knowledge and teaching skills are measured against the highest standards as determined by the NBPTS. The process consists of two major parts, creating portfolios and completing assessment center exercises. In the portfolio portion of the process, teachers demonstrate how they translate knowledge and theory into practice by assembling videotapes of their teaching, by collecting student learning products and other teaching artifacts, and by providing detailed analyses of their teaching practice. In the assessment portion, teachers answer questions on content specific to their fields.

This year, five teachers in Westerly, Rhode Island, have undertaken the challenge of striving for National Board Certification -- and as they do, they have volunteered to share their experiences with you. Through weekly journal entries, these five teachers will provide a glimpse into the National Board Certification process. They will share their triumphs and trials, their questions and advice, their enthusiasm and exhaustion. Hopefully, by the time the journals -- and the struggles - of this year's Education World teacher diarists are complete, you will have a better idea of what the National Board Certification process involves and of what it could mean to you.

More on National Board Certification Learn more about National Board Certification in the following Education World articles: * NBPTS: Building Better Teachers, an interview with NBPTS president Joseph A. Aguerrebere Jr. * In Search Of National Board Certification: One Teacher's Perspective * National Board Certification: Tips From Teachers Who Have Done It * National Board Certification: Is It for You? Previous Teacher Diaries Be sure to also see Education World's previous teacher diary features, Reflections on Teaching and Learning, A First-Year Teacher and Her Mentor, and The First 180 Days: First-Year Teacher Diaries.

Article by Linda Starr
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