Meet School Me, NEA's new online tool for educators
School Me — neatoday.org/schoolme —is a new web-based resource from the National Education Association, one of NYSUT's national affiliates, to help new and early educators grow into seasoned professionals.
Blogs and podcasts feature real stories from educators, derived from their own unique experiences, and NEA resources provide advice on how to navigate this dynamic profession. School Me's DIY, social-friendly videos offer step-by-step visuals of how to create fun and quick classroom activities for students. Monthly webinars are designed to share resources and training on a variety of education topics.
School Me content is available via NEA Today's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, as well as on www.neatoday.org. You can also subscribe to the School Me podcast on iTunes.
If you or someone you know would like to become a contributor, encourage them to submit ideas to newedsubmissions@nea.org.
Online seminar on disability awareness tailored to SRPs
NYSUT's Education & Learning Trust offers a new online seminar for School- Related Professionals who have important roles with students with disabilities and who might work closely with one student with severe disabilities or multiple students with less severe disabilities.
"Disability Awareness," ELT's three-hour online seminar, will help SRPs gain a general understanding of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), characteristics of disabilities and key concepts related to the education of students with disabilities. The seminar is relevant whether an SRP works with students in the special education classroom, on the bus, in the cafeteria, on the playground, etc. Participants will refine their skills and knowledge by experiencing what it is like to have a disability and then apply this information as they identify strategies to improve student learning and behavior specific to the students they support.
The course is $25. Register online today at www.nysut.org/elt.
Helping students, educators heal after violence, tragedy strikes
The National Association of School Psychologists offers a variety of free resources to help students cope with traumatic events and national tragedies. They contain methods to help students who are continually hearing about senseless gun violence in or near schools and are scared about their safety. Visit www.nasponline.org. The National Education Association also has resources available for help and healing during times of crisis. The Healthy Futures School Crisis Guide is a step-by-step resource, created by educators for educators, that can make it easier for union leaders, school district administrators and principals to keep schools safe — before, during and after a crisis. Download the guide at http://healthyfutures.nea.org/wpcproduct/school-crisis-guide/.
Women's history poster features Mary Heaton Vorse
NYSUT celebrates Women's History Month in March — with a free poster highlighting Mary Heaton Vorse (1874–1966) an American journalist, labor activist, social critic and novelist. She was active in a number of social justice causes, including women's suffrage, civil rights and opposition to World War I.
In 1962, Vorse became the first recipient of the United Auto Workers Social Justice Award for her work as a labor journalist in the 1920s and 1930s. Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and novelist Upton Sinclair attended the award ceremony. Each year the Metro Labor Communications Council of New York City awards The Mary Heaton Vorse Award, its highest honor for union journalism.
For print and downloadable PDF versions of this poster, and others, visit www.nysut.org/posters.
COMING UP
March 5–6
NYSUT Committee of 100 advocacy, state Capitol
March 6
NYSUT Board Executive Committee meets, Albany
March 9–11
Somos el Futuro Conference, Albany
April 1
State budget due
April 20
National Day of Action Against Gun Violence in Schools
April 21
Professional Issues Forum on Health Care meets, Latham
April 25
NYSUT Board Executive Committee meets, Buffalo
April 25
NYSUT Board of Directors meets, Buffalo
April 26
NYSUT Local & Retiree Council Presidents Conference, Buffalo
April 27–28
NYSUT Representative Assembly, Buffalo