Most teachers are not ready for the NBPTS writing style. It is not like the writing in your masters or doctorate program. It is not like the writing you do to share what goes on in your classroom. It is a style of writing heavy in analysis and reflection.Teachers usually analyze and reflect the day's lesson in their head because writing 12 pages of thoughts down after every lesson is time prohibitive. However, in the NBPTS written commentaries, you will be doing just that.
Most candidates struggle with the writing style at first, thinking that it all makes sense and "No problem, I can figure it out soon enough." It usually takes candidates two months to understand the writing style because it usually takes two months to get some solid writing completed that meets the writing styles. It is in your best interest to master the three types of writing in NBPTS as soon as possible: descriptive, analytical, reflective.
In your portfolio, you will find a great section (toward the front) that explains the three types of writing from the perspective of NBPTS. Early on in the portfolio, about page 60.
Remember....
For more on the writing style of NBPTS peruse the Writing Style Items under the second banner.
ADDITIONALLY, HERE ARE SOME OTHER WRITING STYLE LINKS....
Overview Descriptive, Analytical, Reflective notes
Worksheet for Descriptive, Analytical, Reflective
DESCRIPTIVE/REFLECTIVE writing
PORTFOLIO ENTRY WRITING
WRITING FOR NBPTS
NBPTS VERBS
STATEMENT STARTERS
We also have a vidcast of the writing styles you can view. In the video we use various shapes. In fact, there is a shape above (triangle) that we use to illustrate the concept of the NBPTS writing styles. While there is no "correct" way to do this style of writing, there are ways that allow for deeper analysis or better use of space. Talked about in the video is a "diamond". The shape is merely to demonstrate a concept.
You may have seen/heard of other shapes. One shape in particular, an hour-glass, is likely the most common. In the past, Jump Start used the upside-down/right-side-up triangles to demonstrate the writing styles. Currently, Jump Start is talking hour-glasses. As long as you understand the concepts, or ask for clarification, you are set. Practice and getting feedback from your facilitators and cohortians will strengthen your understanding as we go. A quick thank you to all the candidates who have sent an accomplishment to us for feedback.
So....to quickly clarify the hour-glass to diamond writing concepts. They are the same thing, but looked at through different lenses. The hour-glass is looking at the depth of the thought, and the diamond is looking at the space used. The following is an overly simplistic metacognition discussion with myself. Here we go:
Hour-Glass:
Fat at top--more general thought, wide view, overarching ideas, world
Thins out--more precise thought (narrows, focuses), specific thought, specific to your teaching context
Fat at bottom--broader though, usually you are reflecting at this point so you are reflecting on what is in store for the future (general) but you are using specific examples from your teaching context
Diamond:
Thin at top--not using a lot of space to discuss the context (descriptive)
Fatter in the middle--more space used for the analysis
Thiner--but not as thin as descriptive
You will "get" the style best by doing it and then it will just "Ahhh-ha!", click.
Square: (avoid this style)
Fat--equal space for all three styles, thereby not going into enough detail in some areas, too much fluff in others
Fat--equal space for all three styles, thereby not going into enough detail in some areas, too much fluff in others
Fat--equal space for all three styles, thereby not going into enough detail in some areas, too much fluff in others
If you have further questions or needs, let us know. I spoke with a facilitator from Jump Start as well as the woman in charge. We are all on the same page. One of the reasons for Washington's success rate is the consistency and dedication among the providers.
Cheers,
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