Self-Assessment of NBPTS

Directions: For each element, rate yourself in one of the following three categories. Then provide examples of your experiences in the
area of the NBPTS. Finally, identify areas within each domain where you are interested in growing. On the last page, summarize your
strengths and areas of possible growth. Boxes will expand as needed.
• Exploring/Emerging (E/E) - a level of practice in which the teacher relies on ongoing assistance from more experienced colleagues for
support, guidance, and survival. The teacher is moving toward becoming more self-directed and independent in her/his practice.
• Applying (A) - a level of practice in which the teacher is able to provide independent instruction and easily applies what s/he has
learned about educational practice.
• Integrating/Innovating (I/I) - a level of development in which the teacher is fully skilled and confident. The Integrating/Innovating
teacher is contributing to the broader educational community through staff development, research, or publication in professional
journals.

Proposition 1: Teachers are committed to students and their learning. E/E A I/I
1. Teachers Recognize Individual Differences in Their Students and Adjust Their Practice Accordingly
2. Teachers Understand How Students Develop and Learn
3. Teachers Treat Students Equitably
4. Teachers Know Their Mission Transcends the Cognitive Development of Their Students
Three Examples of Proposition 1 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
• I assign many open-ended assignments throughout
the year in order to learn more about my individual
students, allow my students to play to their
strengths, and to better differentiate instruction.
• I have spent time over the past few years studying
neuroscience and how the brain learns so I can I would like to spend more time reflecting on what my
maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of a philosophy of education and overall "mission" is. While I
lesson and ensure students are retaining what they have developed a philosophy in the past, I realize my
philosophy will be constantly evoloving as I gain more
should. While pursuing a master's degree last year,
experience and as the field of education naturally progresses.
I took a course titled "Brain-Based Teaching and
Taking time throughout the year to refelct individually and
Learning", which has furthered my ability to with collegaues would ensure my philopsophy is reflective of
understand how students develop and learn. the latest research.
• I seek to form meaningful relationships with my
students so I can learn more about their personal
experiences, background, interests, and learning
style so I can best support them and ultimately
create a more equitable learning environment.

Proposition 2: Teachers know the subjects they teach and how to teach those subjects to E/E A I/I
students.
5. Teachers Appreciate How Knowledge in Their Subjects is Created, Organized, and Linked to Other
Disciplines
6. Teachers Command Specialized Knowledge of How to Convey a Subject to Students
7. Teachers Generate Multiple Paths to Knowledge
Three Examples of Proposition 2 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
• As a chemistry teacher, I often remind my students
about how chemistry is considered to be the
"central science", as all other fields of science While I do collaborate with other departments to link science
revolve around the principles of chemistry. I also content with what students are learning in other classes, I
would like to do this more often. Students benefit from being
collaborate with other departments on campus to
able to connect content with prior experiences and interests,
design projects that allow students to connect and collaborating with other departments will give students
science content to what they are learning in other more opportunities to form these connections.
subjects.
• I use what I have learned about nueroscience and

Self-Assessment of NBPTS (adapted from NBPTS (http://accomplishedteacher.org/preface/). 1

 how the brain learns to ensure I am not
overloading my students' short-term memory,
which would make it more difficult for them to
consolidate information and retain the big ideas.
• I follow the Universal Design for Learning so I can
appeal to multiple learning styles and give students
several options for how they can receive
information and demonstrate knowledge.

Proposition 3: Teachers are responsible for managing and monitoring student learning. E/E A I/I
1. Teachers Call on Multiple Methods to Meet Their Instructional Goals
2. Teachers Support Student Learning in Varied Settings and Groups
3. Teachers Value Student Engagement
4. Teachers Regularly Assess Student Progress
5. Teachers Engage Students in the Learning Process
Three Examples of Proposition 3 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
• As mentioned, I follow the Universal Design for
Learning, which enables me to offer multiple
means of representation, engagement, and action
& expression.
• I mix in a wide variety of formal and informal While I do offer a variety of formative assessments
thoughout a given lesson, I would like to continue to explore
formative assessments to identify and address
the newest applications/programs and discover more
misconceptions and inform future instruction. innovative ways of assessing student progress.
• I refrain from constantly following the initiation-
response-evaluation format of discourse and I
embrace divergent questions to better engage
students in the learning process.

Proposition 4: Teachers think systematically about their practices and learn from experience. E/E A I/I
1. Teachers Make Difficult Choices That Test Their Professional Judgment
2. Teachers Use Feedback and Research to Improve Their Practice and Positively Impact Student Learning
Three Examples of Proposition 4 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
• I carefully consider all options when making a
difficult decision and I often seek advice from
colleagues or administration before making the
decision.
• I encourage my veteran colleagues and
administrators to observe my lessons and offer While I encourage others to come observe my class, I would
feedback. I welcome constructive criticism and am like to take the time to observe others in action. Seeing what
always interested in what other educators think I works (and what doesn't) for other teachers on campus may
could improve on. give me ideas for how I can refine my teaching practices.
• I review current, credible literature so I can
constantly adjust my teaching practices. During my
master's program, I completed my own authentic
research to develop best practices for engaging
students in science classrooms.

Proposition 5: Teachers are Members of Professional Communities E/E A I/I

1. Teachers Collaborate with Other Professionals to Improve School Effectiveness
2. Teachers Work Collaboratively with Families
3. Teachers Work Collaboratively with the Community
Three Examples of Proposition 5 Experiences Areas of Interest in Growth
Self-Assessment of NBPTS (adapted from NBPTS (http://accomplishedteacher.org/preface/). 2
 • I spent the summer break working on the
Curriculum and Technology Task Force at my
school site. With a small team, I explored best
practices for teaching in a virtual classroom and led
multiple presentations and workshops to help ease
other teachers through the transition to distance While I encourage parents/guardians to reach out and share
learning. more about their students, I would lilke to do more to
• During normal school years, I have members of the connect and collaborate with families. I'd like to periodically
send out a newsletter or something similar to keep parents
community come to campus to give presentations
informed on classroom happenings, goals, progress, etc. I
and demonstrations relating to what we are know I can learn a lot from the families of my students, so I'd
covering in class. Last year, I invited a K9 officer like to give them opportunities to be more involved in the
and his dog during a unit on animal behavior. learning process.
• I encourage parents and other family members to
reach out throughout the year so I can learn more
about my individual students and collaborate with
them to develop proper supports,
accommodations, and modifications.

Summary of Strengths and Areas of Possible Growth

I appreciate opportunities to acknowledge my strengths as an educator and reflect on how I could possibly improve. As
noted above, I consider many of my strengths to also be areas of possoble growth. I realize that I must constantly evolve
as an educator as the field of education progresses and as new research becomes available. As a new teacher, I understand
that I can grow in every aspect of teaching, and I strive to do that everyday.

Self-Assessment of NBPTS (adapted from NBPTS (http://accomplishedteacher.org/preface/). 3