Instruction

New guidance on dividing in-person Integrated Co-Teaching classes

On the heels of State Education Department guidance regarding flexibility in Integrated Co-Teaching, the DOE and the UFT have hammered out new guidance on when and how in-person ICT classes can be divided. The division of ICT classes into instructional groups that meet in physically separate spaces is intended to increase in-person instruction and services to students while promoting social distancing and adhering to health and safety requirements. Such divisions should not be used as the pretext to create an ICT bridge class. Further, the following conditions must be met when dividing ICT classes into instructional groups:

• The class is taught by an ICT partnership that includes two teachers with appropriate general education and special education certifications.
• The school must have the available physical space to appropriately accommodate such a division.

In these cases, the ICT partnership teachers will consult on how best to divide the students into the instructional groups and how to assure regular, substantive in-person interaction with each teacher throughout the school day, subject to supervisory approval. These instructional groups must be heterogeneous, and they should maintain the ratio of 60% students without IEPs and 40% students with IEPs consistent with DOE policy.

Earn CTLE hours for free in January with LearnUFT

LearnUFT, a state-approved provider, is offering free CTLE courses for teachers and paraprofessionals in January. Learn about instructional tools and strategies for use in blended and remote classrooms. Each of the two-hour courses will take place remotely on Zoom from 4 to 6 p.m. on 11 dates in January. If you take LearnUFT workshops to attain CTLE hours, the union keeps a record of the certificates you’ve earned and can provide them to you upon request, as a service to members. You can use the State Education Department's recordkeeping form to help you keep track of your CTLE hours.

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Register for a Learning Through Apple workshop

The UFT, in collaboration with Apple, is offering eight virtual workshops in January and early February to help teachers explore how to effectively use iPad, Mac and iOS to enhance teaching and learning and motivate students. Sessions for all levels of expertise include how to organize your online classroom, how to use various features to help students create original projects and how to adapt instruction for all learners. Each workshop offers CTLE credit. The Reaching all Learners session also provides credit toward the CTLE requirement for instruction of English language learners.

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Social workers and psychologists can earn CE hours online

The UFT Member Assistance Program, in collaboration with LearnUFT, is offering online continuing education courses to licensed social workers and mental health counselors this winter. Any UFT member who is a licensed social worker or mental health counselor may earn two continuing education hours by completing one of these training sessions. Each session costs $25. Due to the pandemic, the New York State Education Department permits licensed social workers and mental health counselors to take continuing education courses online through May 1, 2021.

Register now »