What Works!: Successful Strategies for Middle Childhood Generalists Pursuing National Board Certification

by Bobbie Faulkner

WHAT WORKS! provides a roadmap for Middle Childhood Generalist National Board Candidates as they work through each of the fount entries to be submitted and the Assessment Center Exercises. The chapters contain dozens of tips on "What Works!" and "Why These Work"; the tips are practical, specific and written in a user-friendly format with easy to read bullet lists and charts.WHAT WORKS! will guide Middle Childhood Generalists through the maze of requirements and prompts found in the four portfolio entries and prepare them for the Assessment Center Exercises. This is the go-to resource for Middle Childhood Generalists.--Tiffany Albers, Redfield Elementary School, Scottsdale Unified School District, MA Ed, Middle Childhood Generalist

112 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2012

Reviews

[Carrie]

How many good things can I say about this book in one review? Bobbie is an amazing coach who helped me with one of my video entries through the AZK12 Center. She is extremely knowledgeable about the process and gives great tips, strategies, and insight into the portfolio and assessment center. This is a MUST for those pursuing certification in MC-GEN. I truly appreciate the entire book, but my favorite portions were the descriptions she gave for the two types of writing needed for the assessors, the breakdown for the Science entry (including the Scientific Concepts), and even the tidbits at the end on FAQs and a few other such great recommendations.

[Claudia]

Clear, convincing, and consistent. Faulkner is an experienced candidate support provider and has thought deeply about how to help National Board candidates think about their practice. This book is focused on Middle-Childhood Generalist candidates, with a deep discussion of the particular entries for this certification. But as a CSP myself, I learned some of the important nuances that I never understood before.

Writing advice is strong and sound, as is every aspect of this book. Her organization, which includes a section in each chapter explaining WHY these practices work, is easy to follow.

I skimmed over her pretend scenarios of three candidates, and I wondered about her 'made up' writing for examples. Perhaps that was OK in years past, but in OK for some time, we have struggled with this aspect of support...giving even fake examples of the writing.

I will be recommending this book to our new candidates, and I will be using the information. Example...we in OK talk about the pyramid of writing for Entry 4 accomplishments. Faulkner talks about candy corn...nature of the accomplishment is white, significance is yellow and impact on student learning is the orange. I love that visual!

A welcome addition to the field.

[Justin Price]

Anyone applying for National Board Certification should read this book!