October 27, 2003

Although the board certification process is time consuming and difficult, I've noticed that I'm more reflective with my planning and teaching. I constantly ask myself, "Why am I having the kids do this?" or "Is this really relevant to the curriculum?" I also find myself wondering, on a regular basis, how I can improve on a lesson or improve my teaching in general.

Believe me, there are days when I'm screaming at myself for taking this on. I try to convince myself that I don't really want to do it. However, when I get entrenched in writing an entry or start discussing the process with my friend and colleague, who is also attempting this great feat, there's stress, there's harsh self-criticism, there's enormous self- doubt, but attached to all of it, is this little shred of hope and a belief that I might actually be good enough to achieve this! Whatever the outcome, I will be a better teacher for having tried.

Meet Elizabeth Scheibl Elizabeth Scheibl received her bachelor's degree in English literature and elementary education from Providence College in May 1990. For five years, she was a resource teacher at Bradford Elementary School in Westerly, Rhode Island. For the past eight years, she has taught fourth grade at the school. Elizabeth enjoys the daily challenges that teaching offers and strives to grow and better herself as an educator.