Release Day #2

And it's a good one. I have had the chance to look at the two videos I've done so far (you remember those two I didn't have with me in December?) They are both good videos. I have to pick a maximum of 15 minutes (consecutive minutes) from each to focus on. For my Entry 2 video (filmed with PreK-K students in November), that will be easy. For my Entry 3 video (filmed in December with 4th and 5th graders) that will be a bit more difficult. There are lots of things throughout the segment that I would really like to use but due to the time restrictions, I can't use the whole thing. I've asked a couple of NBCTs if they have any advice on picking the best 15 minutes. I guess another question I should ask them is if my statement to the students of the day's objective needs to be on the video or if it's ok to just have that written in my written commentary that gets evaluated. If having it in the written commentary is sufficient, the decision might be made easier.



So today, my goals are:

1. Determine whether or not my videos will work (they will)

2. Get started on the written commentary for each (both are sort of in process)

3. Get to school and get my grades entered for my middle school class (not NB related, but they are due today and I wasn't able to do it from home so I'll go into school around 3 today and get that done.)

4. Study my entry requirements and standards more.

5. Get final preparations done for my Entry 1 so that I can get started on that in the next couple of weeks. For this, I need to figure out what parts of the unit I should film. I'll need to bounce ideas off of colleagues for this, I think.



My portfolio is due two months from tomorrow. Can we say crunch time?

In the Mail

I got copies of the two forms that my district filled out in my box at school yesterday. They were dated on Wednesday, so I'm assuming that means that they are on their way to San Antonio. Yay! All is well. :-)

Wednesday is a release day (number 2 of 3). I'll spend the day watching the videos I've done (they will physically be here, not at school...) and get started on my reflections.

There is a workshop at the beginning of March somewhere in my area called "Home Stretch". I've signed up for it. Being a member of the state teacher's union gives be a $120 discount on the cost. I'll only have to pay $30. At least one other teacher from my building is going and she and I are going to carpool if it's out of our city. Heck, we may carpool anyway. Of course if it is in our downtown area, I'll just park elsewhere and take the light rail into where I suspect it may be. I'll be able to have one of my entries reviewed and be able to get live feedback. I also need to get things sent off to some friends who are already nationally certified.

last step

...toward candidacy. I got my last bit of paperwork into my school district yesterday afternoon. They need to fill out a couple of forms and then send the entire envelope to San Antonio so that it arrives by the end of the month.

I have a three-day weekend so I'm hoping to get my videos viewed so I can determine whether or not I can use them for my entries.

As an aside, I thought my state teaching certificate was expiring this school year. Nope. I found out when I looked at the copy I got from the central offices (my original is somewhere really safe at home...) that I actually have until June 1 of next year to either get my boards (I'll find out in November if I certify nationally) or to otherwise complete all of my clock hours (150 total) by next year. What a relief!