Ok, so it’s October 2022, and I am focusing on Component 2 because Component 1 is a test, and I have till like mid-June 2023 to take it. So I’m putting that on the backburner.

Every certification has different requirements for Component 2. For the Exceptional Needs certification, you are required to choose one student of focus, develop an instructional question related to the student’s area of need, collect background information from various sources, provide evidence that you targeted that instructional need, and present evidence of student growth over time. Oh, and write a 12 page commentary about all that.

Once I nailed down the student (I was wavering between two), the most challenging part was developing the question. I ended up using one of the factors that contributed to the student’s learning disability diagnosis (significantly low processing speed) coupled with her receptive language disability.

I had written about 4 pages of the written commentary and decided to submit a page of two for feedback offered through my school district to make sure I was on the right track. Honestly, when I submitted my draft, I thought it was garbage and way off base. I think that is the biggest challenge with NBC. You really have no idea if you are doing it “right.” It feels like the directions are all so vague and can be interpreted differently by each candidate. I never felt confident about any of it, actually.

I ended up getting pretty good feedback by whoever this person was, and I thought, “Ok, well, I’m just gonna keep going with it.” That was the first and only time I ever asked for help or feedback, and if I’m being completely honest, it’s because I didn’t want to get negative feedback. I wasn’t interested in starting over or “fixing” anything.

When you hit the submit button, there is a huge sense of relief along with a sprinkle of anxiety. “What if I forgot to put my ID number in the top right corner on that one document?” “What if I forgot to answer a question?” “What if it’s not formatted they way they want it to be?” These questions dance in your head, but it’s too late. You won’t know for another 7 months.

I ended up getting a 3 on Component 2. 4 is the highest score you can get, so I was happy (and shocked) to be honest. Like I said, its like shooting darts blindfolded. You just don’t know if you are giving them what they want. I will say that the more data you can give them, the better. The written commentary questions feel redundant, so the more data you can reference, the easier it will be to write.

Have you completed your National Board Certification? What did you think about Component 2? Let me know in the comments!