Early and Middle Childhood/English as a New Language
Credential: Early and Middle Childhood/English as a New Language
Credentialing Agency: National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
Renewal Period: 5 years
The Early and Middle Childhood/English as a New Language certification is appropriate for teachers who teach linguistically and culturally diverse learners ages 3-12 and who know the range of the early and middle childhood curriculum. Candidates must have a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, have a minimum of three years of teaching experience at the early childhood, elementary, middle school, or high school level, and where it is required, hold a state teaching license. Candidates must pass a computer-based assessment and submit three portfolio entries.
More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.
Early and Middle Childhood/English as a New Language
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Eligibility Requirements (View Details)
- Credential Prerequisite: state teaching license
- Experience: 3 years
- Education: Bachelors
- Training
- Membership
- Other
- Fee
Note: This credential may have multiple options for becoming eligible. Listed are the minimum requirements based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.
Exam Requirements (View Details)
- Exam
- Written Exam
- Oral Exam
- Practical Exam
- Performance Assessment
RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY
Renewal Period: 5 years
AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
1525 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 700
Arlington, VA 22209
Phone: (703) 465-2700
Fax: (703) 465-2715
Contact Page
Credential Pre-requisite REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must possess a valid state teaching or counseling license. Exception: If the candidate is teaching where a license is not required, he/she must have taught in schools recognized and approved to operate by the state.
Education and/or Experience REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
Candidates must have a minimum of three years teaching experience at the early childhood, elementary, middle school, or high school level.
Written Exam
Content knowledge is assessed through the completion of approximately 45 selected response items and three constructed response exercises.
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Knowledge of Culture and Diversity (20%)
- Knowledge and Understanding of Culture and Diversity
- Culturally Responsive Learning Environments
- Student Advocacy
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Knowledge of the English Language (25%)
- Listening
- Speaking
- Reading
- Writing
- Phonology
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Discourse
- Social English Language
- Academic English Language
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Knowledge of English Language Acquisition (40%)
- Language Exposure
- Language Awareness
- Interaction and Practice
- Interdependence of Language and Content
- Interdependence of Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening, and Visual Literacy
- Explicit Instruction
- Instructional Feedback
- Language Transfer
- Educational Background
- Culture and Socioeconomic Variables
- Age and Length of Time in the United States
- Other Factors Affecting Language Development
- Myths and Misconceptions about English Language Acquisition
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Assessment (15%)
- Variety in Assessment Techniques
- Initial Placement Assessment
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Constructed Response: Domains of English Language Development
- In this exercise, candidates will use their knowledge of domains of English language development to identify four strategies and/or activities that would enhance proficiencies in four of five domains (listening, speaking, reading, writing, and visual literacy).
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Constructed Response: Linguistic Structure of English
- In this exercise, candidates will use their knowledge of the linguistic structure of the English language to analyze errors in a student work sample and to describe appropriate strategies for addressing the identified errors with the student described.
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Constructed Response: English Language Acquisition
- In this exercise, candidates will use their knowledge of English language acquisition to analyze a description of an English language learner and to describe appropriate strategies for enhancing the English language acquisition of the learner.
Performance Exam Requirements
In addition to the computer-based assessment, candidates for National Board Certification are required to complete three portfolio entries, which are submitted online.
The topics for the portfolio entries are as follows:
- Differentiation Instruction
- This classroom-based portfolio entry is primarily comprised of samples of student work and an accompanying written commentary.
- Teaching Practice and Learning Environment
- This is a classroom-based portfolio entry that requires video recordings of interactions between the candidate and his/her students.
- Effective and Reflective Practitioner
- This portfolio entry requires examples of assessments used for formative and summative purposes.
Exam Preparation Resources
There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Early and Middle Childhood/English as a New Language examination:
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Best Sources
- Candidate FAQs
- Candidate Resources
- Early and Middle Childhood/English as a New Language - Component 1
- Early and Middle Childhood/English as a New Language - Component 2
- Early and Middle Childhood/English as a New Language - Component 3
- Early and Middle Childhood/English as a New Language - Component 4
- English as a New Language Standards
- Guide to National Board Certification
- NBCT Certification Renewal - Profile of Professional Growth
- Renewal at a Glance
- Renewal Guide to Board Certification
RECERTIFICATION
Early and Middle Childhood/English as a New Language
Renewal Period: 5 years
Additional considerations for the Early and Middle Childhood/English as a New Language include:
- The Early and Middle Childhood/English as a New Language certificate area includes the following paths:
- Path 1 is an assessment of the English as a New Language Standards and is designed for bilingual teachers (the term "bilingual" is used here in a nonspecific sense to identify the teacher who uses both English and another language in instruction) who would like to achieve certification within the English as a New Language framework while also demonstrating their accomplishment as Early Childhood or Middle Childhood Generalists. All candidates must show in their portfolio entries that they are fostering English language development within their bilingual context. At the assessment center, they will complete exercises in their respective generalist areas.
- Path 2 is also an assessment of the English as a New Language Standards and is designed for teachers who identify themselves as English Language Development Specialists (ELDS) (ELDS is used here to identify the teacher who is an English language development specialist and who may or may not use the students' first language in instruction).