National Board Certification

This Indecision’s Bugging Me*

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As I pursue the National Board Certification for Teaching, I’m losing steam at the end. It’s feeling like maybe I’m not going to finish. A sprinkle of overwhelm and the bland mushiness of despair have rendered a toxic “Blah Stew.”

So I typed “quotes on finishing strong” to motivate me. The one above is pretty good. But then I found this one:

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I’m going to continue on: I will complete the work. At the same time, I surrender to whatever happens.

It’s all good.

 

*The Clash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tired of Starting Over?

Image result for nike just do it

Today’s motto (for me) is “just do it.”

 

I’m in the middle of the National Board of Certification process and one requirement is to take two 15-minute videos of myself teaching and to analyze them. In order to do this, I must view the videos. Repeatedly.

Ugh.

I do not like to hear myself – alone see myself – on screen.

At last, I did it. And you know what? It wasn’t terrible.

So, today, I encourage you to “just do it.” If it needs to be done, but you dread it, know that it’s OK.

If you need a more aggressive motivational message, watch Shia below:

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Good Company

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Photo from Everson Mayer

I’m in a room of about 100 teachers from all over Arizona. I feel blessed to be here. We’re all pursuing National Board Certification. Sure, we get a (small) financial award, but the biggest reason that we’ve shown up is that each of us will deepen our teaching practice and bring more to each of our 30 – 180 students each day.

The great majority of teachers are exceptional people.

 

And then there are these bigots (who ought to lose their jobs):

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13% of their student body is Latin-American. Idaho needs to do better for the children.