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Topics in the News:
new teachers
With all the mayor’s talk about firing “ineffective” teachers, it seems there must be a big supply of replacements just waiting in the wings, busily perfecting their lesson plans and brushing up on testing metrics. One can only hope so. Because 6,000 teachers and support staff left on their own last year, even more than the year before.
Do you know what state certificate you hold? Your requirements under that certificate? Your deadlines for completing requirements? What city license you’re appointed under? The UFT gets many questions from newer teachers looking for clear and reliable answers about certification, licensing and appointment.
With each expecting a “Proud UFT Baby,” newer teachers Claudia Castro of PS 307; Zennebe Arnold of MS 137; Veronica Romero of PS/IS 113; and Colleen Wilson of PS 150, all in Queens, surround Greer Hansen Velazquez who explained their rights and benefits at a Nov. 3 Maternity Workshop at the Queens UFT office.
Do you expect to be up for tenure? If so, become familiar with the Department of Education’s new Tenure Decision-making Framework. The new framework, which was introduced in the 2010-2011 school year, guides principals in making tenure decisions. There are important changes to be aware of.
Teaching can feel like an isolating experience, especially for newer teachers. But there’s no need to feel alone. In fact, reaching out to others in your school community — parents, paraprofessionals, colleagues — is a good way to create support systems for yourself and enlist allies in the education of your students. Read more for suggestions on creating connections right in your school.
In my first year as a new teacher, I thought I would end up crushed under the mountain of homework, class work, quizzes, exams, essays, lesson plans and books. No one had shared with me just how much work I would face outside of the classroom in preparation to return to teach each class each day.
A Brooklyn kindergarten teacher recommends two database programs that help her keep track of students' grades and progress, her contact with parents, and other information.
Teachers from all boroughs streamed to the UFT on Sept. 8 for fall course registration and guidance.
Few things are better than a fresh start. To come at something with new eyes, new lessons learned and a chance to do things differently than before — it’s reinvigorating. And teachers get one every September: a chance to reimagine everything, from how you teach to how you decorate your classroom.
Educators and parent leaders from Brooklyn’s PS/IS 180 and PS 231, the District 75 school with which it shares space, held an early-morning “Black Friday” protest against budget cuts and layoffs on June 17 as part of the ongoing series of “Fight Back Friday” demonstrations at schools around the city.
The mentoring that Teaching Fellows receive during their first years of teaching is often too little and not in compliance with New York State requirements, a new report examining the New York City Teaching Fellows program has found.
The school year may be nearly over, but you may have some important business to complete — either before you leave for the summer or before you return in the fall.
Sometimes teachers need to take a break in service. Some, like you, need to temporarily relocate away from New York City to accompany a spouse; others decide to try another career path and later decide to return to teaching. Before you take time out for these or other reasons that may not qualify for an official leave of absence, be sure to call your UFT borough office and ask to speak to a consultant.
Top 10 questions/comments made by my 3rd-graders during their first-ever set of English language arts and math state exams (aka “Why teaching in a testing grade may cause premature aging,” or “Why I have Band-Aids on all my fingers from nervously picking off the cuticles while proctoring”).
As busy as you are at this time with grades, report cards and other classroom responsibilities, leave time in June to take care of items that could affect your professional and economic future.
Test prep in my 3rd-grade class has been extremely stressful. First of all, I’ve never taught “test prep” before, least of all to kids who have never taken “THE TEST” before. I’m convinced my co-teacher and I don’t know what we’re doing and if the children do poorly, it will be our fault for not adequately preparing them.
His grandmother used to find him singing in front of the mirror, using a broomstick for a microphone. When he was 3 he started singing at church. Today, tenor opera singer Avid Williams, who has been making his living with his voice for 10 years, is making music at Brooklyn HS of the Arts. As director of the choir and the school’s vocal program, this second-year teacher has found his niche.
Probationary teachers — those who have not yet achieved tenure — flocked to a series of workshops sponsored by the UFT to explain the Department of Education’s new tenure-granting process and what teachers can do to prepare for it.
About 300 probationary teachers showed up at the UFT’s Manhattan borough office on Jan. 25 seeking help navigating the Department of Education’s new tenure guidelines for teachers.
There are quite a few so this reply can only be an introduction to the subject. Observations and evaluations fall under the general category of performance review, which is cited in Article 8J of the UFT contract.
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