Professional Reading.
Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions. -Unknown
Come along and GROW Professionally!
Who dares to TEACH must never cease to LEARN! -John Cotton Dana
Become an Accomplished Teacher! The “Consortium” is LIVE1
The Consortium of Accomplished Educators is dedicated to guiding candidates through every phase of their journey toward National Board Certification. Our organization offers invaluable pre-candidacy assistance in the Recruitment Phase, featuring informative sessions and tailored programs to attract a diverse pool of National Board candidates.
Moving into the Service Phase, we provide comprehensive support, beginning with a thorough assessment of individual needs. Our professional development offerings are carefully curated to address these needs effectively. Additionally, the National Board of Certified Teachers extends its full spectrum of services, encompassing coaching, mentoring, a strategic advocacy plan, and steadfast Maintenance of Certification support.
In our commitment to fostering excellence in education, we proudly introduce "The Consortium Magazine," a publication crafted by educators for educators. This magazine is a valuable resource, offering practical tips and indispensable tools for navigating the National Board certification process, enriching classroom experiences, optimizing school environments, and thriving in various educational settings. Each issue of "The Consortium Magazine" is thoughtfully curated to include resources and insightful commentary that align with the pursuit and attainment of National Board Certification.
Strategies That Work, Teaching Comprehension for Understanding Engagement, and Building Knowledge Grades K-8
One of my favorite teacher resources is Strategies That Work, Teaching Comprehension for Understanding Engagement, and Building Knowledge Grades K-8 by Stephanie Harvey and Anne Goudvis. The authors are on their third edition of the text, and I’ve read each text multiple times.
Suddenly and All at Once: How My Instruction Changed During the Pandemic of 2020
This text covers The Foundations of Meaning, Monitoring Comprehension: The Inner Conversation and Visualizing and Inferring: Making What’s Implicit Explicit, etc.
My favorite chapter, Chapter 9: Questioning: The Strategy That Propels Reading Forward, is highly informative. Some strategies this chapter covers include categorizing questions, creating wonder walls, reading with questions in mind, and teaching the difference between thick and thin questions. Instructional Forum: A Journal of Pedagogical Practices across Maryland Community Colleges Volume 35, Issues 1, Spring 2021 “Suddenly and All at Once: How My Instruction Changed During the Pandemic of 2020” By Senetria Blocker, Adjunct Professor, Public Service and Business, Prince George’s Community College
Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Teaching and Learning by Gholdy Muhammad
In her latest work, Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Teaching and Learning, Dr. Gholdy Muhammad expands upon her pioneering instructional model introduced in Cultivating Genius. I have not read Cultivating; however, after reading Unearthing Joy, Cultivating Genius is moving to the top of my TBR stack.
Focusing on joy as a transformative element, Dr. Muhammad redefines its significance beyond mere happiness, encompassing wellness, beauty, healing, and justice. She believes that all children will be empowered to cultivate identity, skills, intellect, criticality, and joy through teaching rooted in cultural and historical realities. Her exploration of joy as a multifaceted concept challenges conventional notions, emphasizing its role in fostering wellness, beauty, healing, and justice. Educators can create inclusive and empowering learning.
The book has some fantastic elements I have not experienced in one book for adults, such as coloring pages at the end of each chapter and a QR code to a Spotify list of songs Dr. Muhammad recommends the reader listen to softly as they read the chapter. The Spotify list includes some of my favorites: Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackso, Nina Simone, The Isley Brothers, and I could go on. Another element I loved is that each chapter starts with a positive quote and a poem by Langston Hughes.
Unearthing Joy is a beacon for educators seeking to elevate their teaching practices and uplift all of their students. Dr. Gholdy Muhammad's comprehensive guide offers a holistic approach to culturally responsive teaching, emphasizing the transformative power of joy in education. I recommend you embark on a journey of unearthing joy and read this book.
Training from the Back of the Room! 65 Ways to Step Aside and Let Them Learn by Sharon L. Bowman
Several years ago, I read Sharon L. Bowman's "Training from the BACK of the Room!" for the first time. It happened while I was a member of a National Board Certified Teachers' book club. Our goal was to explore literature that could enhance our ability to deliver engaging and impactful presentations to our colleagues and candidates. Recognizing that educators lead busy lives, we sought strategies to capture their attention and effectively maintain engagement throughout our interactions. Bowman's insights proved invaluable in this endeavor, providing practical techniques to create dynamic and stimulating learning experiences.
“Training from the BACK of the Room!” presents an innovative approach to training, offering 65 proven strategies to enhance learning outcomes across various topics, group dynamics, and learning environments. Bowman's four-step instructional design and delivery process is at the core of the book, which places learners at the forefront of the learning experience. The book provides comprehensive guidance on implementing each step, focusing on inclusivity and learner participation. The strategies are organized into four categories, known as the 4 Cs:
Connections: This section offers fifteen activities designed to establish connections among learners, the topic, and the learning objectives.
Concepts: Twenty strategies are provided to engage learners during the instructional segment, encouraging active participation and comprehension.
Concrete Practice: This portion outlines fifteen strategies for learners to review content and practice newly acquired skills actively.
Conclusions: Finally, fifteen learner-led activities are presented to summarize key concepts, evaluate learning outcomes, and celebrate achievements.
In conclusion, even though "Training from the BACK of the Room!" is an older text, first published in 2009, it is an invaluable resource for educators and trainers alike, offering a wealth of practical tools and insights to enhance learning experiences. By prioritizing learner engagement and active participation, this book empowers trainers to create dynamic and practical training sessions that leave a lasting impact. Whether you're a seasoned educator or new to the field, incorporating the strategies outlined in this book can revolutionize your approach to training and foster a culture of continuous learning and growth. I speak from experience. I recently completed a series of workshops on Presenting to Adults, and I reached for this oldie but goodie, and things went well.
Hacking Engagement Again, 50 Teacher Tools That Will Make Students Love Your Class by James Alan Sturtevant
Prince George’s County Public Schools National Board Professional Learning Facilitators cohort is reading Hacking Engagement Again, 50 Teacher Tools That Will Make Students Love Your Class by James Alan Sturtevant for our book club selection. The author (pictured above in the top left-hand corner) spoke with us about his writing process. He also shared this link to his Padlet for Podcast Listeners, The Sturtevant ENGAGEMENT PLAYLIST. The book is jam-packed with lots of easy-to-use ideas to get students of all ages cognitively engaged. Hacks require minimal preparation and can be easily turn-keyed in any classroom. The average hack is 3 to 4 pages with QR codes and illustrations, making it easy to read. Some of my favorite hacks are Hack 51 - Contextualize…Contextualize… Contextualize…, Hack 80 - Empower Kids to Make a 60-Second Super Bowl Commercial and Hack 91 - Revolutionize The Field Trip.
Onward, Cultivating Emotional Resilience in Educators by Elena Aguilar introduces a solution to the prevalent issue of educator stress. "Onward" offers a practical framework to alleviate the burnout often associated with teaching. This book resonates with me as a lifetime learner and an educator with over 30 years of professional experience. The text presents a pathway to resilience aimed at empowering teachers to weather the storms of their profession and ultimately eradicate the factors contributing to their stress.
When I first picked up "Onward" as an assigned reading for one of my classes, I never anticipated that the book would change my thinking about self-care. What initially drew me in was its focus on cultivating resilience, a particularly relevant topic given the challenges educators face daily. As I delved deeper into the book, I discovered a wealth of practical wisdom and actionable strategies that have become invaluable tools in my journey to care for myself so that I show up for others as my best self.
At the heart of Onward lies a four-part framework built upon 12 essential habits," Aguilar explains. This framework isn't just theoretical; it's a hands-on guide for navigating teaching life's inevitable ups and downs. From fostering self-awareness to embracing vulnerability, each habit plays a vital role in shaping our resilience and fortifying our resolve. Through Aguilar's insightful guidance, we learn how to weather the storms of teaching and how to emerge from them stronger and more resilient than ever before. It is worth a read.
Coming Soon………
Check back later to hear my analysis of Brené Brown‘s Dare to Lead: Brave Work, Tough Conversations, Whole Hearts.
We will continue to Amplify Our Voices!
According to National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) data, the proportion of Black, Hispanic, and Asian American teachers has increased in recent decades. Still, it has not kept up with the rapid growth in the racial and ethnic diversity of its students. Elementary and secondary public school teachers in the United States are significantly less diverse than their students.
The teacher workforce is dominated by White teachers, accounting for 68.8% of educators, followed by Hispanic or Latino teachers (12.9%), Black or African American teachers (10.1%), and those of unknown backgrounds (3.9%). This demographic landscape underscores the importance of fostering diversity among educators to establish a more inclusive and enriching learning environment. Such diversity mirrors the multifaceted reality of our society, enabling students to gain a deeper appreciation and comprehension of the complexities of the world and its diverse population.
“Amplifying the Voices of Teachers of Color: The National Board Certification Journey" is a groundbreaking literary work that delves into the profound experiences, challenges, and triumphs of educators of color as they navigate the rigorous path toward National Board Certification. It is both an honor and a privilege to be invited to contribute to this compelling narrative, as within its pages, educators of diverse backgrounds generously share their personal stories. These narratives shed light on their unique journeys and provide invaluable insights, motivation, and inspiration for fellow educators undertaking similar National Board Certification quests.
The book emphasizes the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the educational system and clarifies the certification procedure. It provides tactics to boost the proportion of teachers of color in the NBC program, aiming to foster more inclusive and equitable learning environments for all kids.