Welcome!

The purpose of this site is to provide a quick, easy, and reliable way to provide resources that might be helpful to members of BU's BEST Noyce Scholarship program. All links on this website should open in a new window.

Resources Primarily for Pre-Service Teachers ("Year 0")

Interview Questions
This is a list of commonly-asked interview questions. In addition to the basics ("why do you want to work here?" and "why is ______ a good fit for you?"), these are crucial questions you should be able to confidently and coherently answer.
(Recommended) Timeline for Your MAT Year
This is a timeline for your MAT year. It is only a recommendation for how you might want to do things, keeping in mind that you will be applying for a job with a pending license, and that delays in obtaining a license could make finding a teaching position difficult.
How Much Does My License Cost?
This page has a breakdown of the core costs of getting your license, including testing, license, and fingerprinting fees.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Teacher Rubric
This is the teacher rubric that is used to evaluate inservice teachers. You should become familiar with this rubric, as it describes wTimhat it means to be a proficient teacher according to the Commonwealth. If you decide you want to teach in another state, you should independently seek out that states teacher rubric.
DESE Licensure Information
This website contains information about the requirements for earning different teaching license. At the end of your MAT year, you should receive an initial license in mathematics (with a grade level appropriate to the grade you want to teach).
DESE Educator Licensure Lookup
Website that allows you to lookup an educator and view their licensure status. This data is now publically available.
Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) Information
This site has important information related to the MTEL exams. To be licensed as a mathematics teacher, you need to pass the Communication and Literacy Skills MTEL as well as the Mathematics MTEL (the latter depending on the grade level you want to teach)
MTEL Practice Tests
This site has some practice MTELs that you can take if you need a sense of what the timing and questions are like. As the site says, there is a PDF version of the HS and MS math tests, including answers and explanations.
BU Licensure Office
Information provided by BU about important steps you need to take in order to receive your licensure. This office also certifies with DESE that you have completed your program and SEI endorsement.
PROMYS for Teachers
Wonderful program for pre-service and inservice teachers. Really helps to relate to students' struggles. Provides 8 graduate credits and $1200 stipend, as well as lifetime access to seminars through EDC/BU (worth taking a paid professional day for!) Recommended if you're looking for something to do in between the end of your MAT year and start of your first inservice year.

Resources Primarily for In-Service Teachers ("Year 1+")

SMART Goals Information
Things you may want to know about SMART goals, including what they are and advice on making them.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Educator Evaluation Website
Website used by DESE to provide important information about the educator evaluation process. Some of the documents linked to below are found on this site.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Evaluation Cycle Information
A document produced by DESE that provides information on the stages of the evaluation process used in public schools. Within each step of the cycle, there are links to more specific information.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Summative Performance Rating Information
This document from DESE is included in the document from the above link. It explains the final rating you will be given at the completion of the year, and how that rating is broken down by the four performance standards and SMART goals progress/completion. As the document notes, your overall rating is crucial to your ability to receive professional status (tenure). Along with that notice, look at the minimum threshold requirements on page 11, which explain what you need to do in order to receive an overall rating of proficient or exemplary. Examples of summative performance assessments are included.
My 2017-2018 Evaluation Portfolio
This is a portfolio of evidence I put together for my 2017-2018 evaluation. For your evaluation, you should discuss with your evaluator how your evidence should be presented. Most evidence that does not contain student information can be accessed.
My Binder Website
This is a website I use for my classes to help them stay more organized. It also contains links to some of the worksheets I have used this year (some of which have lesson plans included!). Feel free to browse if you are looking for resources.
Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) Teacher Rubric
This is the teacher rubric that is used to evaluate inservice teachers. You should become familiar with this rubric, as it describes what it means to be a proficient teacher according to the Commonwealth. If you decide you want to teach in another state, you should independently seek out that states teacher rubric.
Desmos Teacher Resources
Resources from Desmos that you can easily deploy in your classroom. Definitely worth a look!
Problem Attic
Great website for creating worksheets. You need a (free) account to use the site.
Pleacher Logic Puzzles
This is a website that I use to find a lot of logic puzzles for my class. These are great ways to get students working together to solve challenging problems without necessarily/explicitly "doing" math.
My Logic Puzzles Folder
A folder of logic puzzles that I have on Google Drive. Many of them are adapted from TedEd and/or include transcripts from YouTube videos that you can use to supplement the activity.
NCTM Illuminations
Website from NCTM with some cool electronic resources you could use in the classroom.