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Whales and Our World

The activities in this unit will provide students with a basic understanding of the problems surrounding the exploitation of the environment, the causes and consequences of extinction, the remedial measures now underway to protect endangered species...

Mold

Mold is in the news. People are talking about its potential health and economic impact. But what are the real risks and issues?

Battle to preserve premium-free health care

UFT President Michael Mulgrew warned at the Oct. 12 Delegate Assembly that the UFT and its fellow unions are entering a fierce battle to protect their premium-free health care.

Fostering fellowship on the fairway

Retiree Ann Mackey founded the Coastal New Jersey Chapter of the LPGA Amateurs, the recreational amateur arm of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, fostering fellowship on the fairway and empowering women, one golf swing at a time.

About the RTC

The Retired Teachers Chapter is a dynamic organization of over 67,000 members shaped by political activism and committed to protecting and improving retiree benefits — considered the nation’s best among public school teachers. Its vast and varied...

Article Ten — Unpaid Leave

10.1 Basis and Amount. On application as required by Section 10.2 of this Article, a Regular Full-Time or Regular Part-Time Employee who has completed six (6) months or more of continuous employment with the Employer will be eligible for leave of...

Asbestos

The precise risk of disease from low-level, short-term exposure to asbestos is unknown. There is no scientific evidence that casual exposure to asbestos — such as the amounts typically found in schools — will cause a problem.

Kindness, the cure that costs nothing

“Be kind, rewind” is a slogan that disappeared with VHS tapes, but it succinctly illustrates the basic elements of kindness: Even a small, seemingly trivial act can make life a little better for someone you don’t know.

Still fighting the good fight

The UFT’s Retired Teachers Chapter hosted a celebratory luncheon on March 6 to recognize 68 educators who have been union members for 50, 60 or more years. 


Summer thrills

Running through a sprinkler on a hot day. The taste of corn fresh from the grill. Swimming in a river, lake, ocean or pool. These are but a few of the joys of summer. Make sure to be in the moment and savor the simple pleasures of these long, bright...

Stitching together the pieces in retirement

Louise Naples, a retired school secretary, has become an avid quilter in retirement. Her quilts were recently on display at The Center, a communal gathering space at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Kew Gardens, Queens.

Soak up the sun safely

Days are longer and the sun’s rays don’t only help flowers bloom — they also have a way of making us feel happier and more energized. So embrace your inner sun worshipper and enjoy the benefits of the season.

Teaching financial literacy

Financial literacy is a foundational life skill, yet too many young people reach adulthood without it. Here are several comprehensive, nonpartisan resources teachers can trust.

Raising our voices for special education

UFT Vice President for Special Education MaryJo Ginese writes that our special education teachers, paraprofessionals and related service providers do incredible work supporting children with IEPs, but the DOE too often has not fulfilled its part.


Some advice for handling challenging situations

As a new teacher, you are bound to encounter situations with students that are challenging to navigate. If you find yourself in one of the following situations, here is some guidance for making a plan of action.

Filling a Leaky Bucket: A New Look at the Teacher Shortage

New York City had to hire more than 9,000 new teachers for the 2003-04 school year alone, the equivalent of 11.5 percent of its 78,000-member teaching force. In fact, the city has hired almost that many new teachers every year since 1997.

Rights and benefits information for military service members and veterans

Educators who are serving or who have served in the U.S. military qualify for special leaves of absence and may be eligible for special benefits

Become politically active

All teachers, even brand-new ones, have a stake in political matters. Consider the ways in which you might deepen your engagement with issues outside the classroom that matter to public school educators.

Working relationships with colleagues are vital

Whether you co-teach on a regular basis or sit on the same grade or subject team as other educators, you have a host of colleagues who can be your allies and support network.

Hard times put benefits at risk

Far right legislators see raising the debt ceiling as an opportunity to push an ideological agenda that could advance their cause.

Bronx school just says no

A coalition of parents and teachers at PS 28 in the Mount Hope section of the Bronx, drawing on the expertise of UFT organizer Betty Zohar, formed in December to prod the police and local officials to clean up the school's entrance, where drug users...

‘A shining light’

PS 20 in Flushing, Queens, paid tribute to beloved physical education teacher Scott Brower, 42, who died March 20 after being struck by a speeding motorcyclist on Long Island.

CookShop

CookShop, the federally funded nutrition education program of the Food Bank For New York City, helps children, teens and adults develop the nutrition knowledge and cooking skills to make healthy food choices on a limited budget, and fosters...

Harvest new beginnings

With the shift from summer to fall, now is the time to reap the benefits of a likely change in routine, to make decisions about what’s really important — and to develop whatever new habits you’ve been meaning to.

Mulgrew shares post-election outlook

UFT President Michael Mulgrew predicted that the Trump administration will attack unions and public education.

Mapping out a path to learning

The latest online mapping tools can do much more than get us from point A to B. With features such as data collection and media integration, online maps can be used in the classroom to take student activities in completely new directions. 


Getting in SHIP-shape will cover out-of-pocket costs

For $120 a year, UFT retirees who are members of the Retired Teachers Chapter can obtain supplemental benefits that reimburse them for some out-of-pocket expenses, including ambulance rides, dental work, hearing aids and private-duty nursing.

The importance of being ‘seen’

Educators' extra efforts working collaboratively and leading their students at Francis Lewis HS in Queens paid off with an extra special Black History Month celebration featuring a number of high-profile speakers, including film director Malcolm Lee...

Tech tools to bring the arts to class

While technology tools cannot and should not replace hands-on art making, these digital resources can be used to bring the arts, which may be otherwise lacking in your students’ school day, into your curriculum in meaningful ways.

HERstory celebration

About 175 members and guests attended this year's HERstory brunch in celebration of women’s role in the UFT and the broader labor movement.

Our contract

The Family Child Care Providers Chapter signed and ratified its third contract with the state’s Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) in 2022. See highlights of your contractual rights.

ICT class ratios & variances

The number of students with disabilities in an Integrated Co-Teaching class may not exceed 40 percent of the total class register with a maximum of 12 students with disabilities.