GARLAND EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
AFFILIATED WITH TSTA /NEA
Dear TSTA/NEA Members,
Greetings! There are many new ideas out there to help members. NEA has created the Works-4-Me website which contain tried and true teaching hints suggested by NEA members. Each week there will be new helpful (and short) hints to help you in your professional life.
For more information about your NEA Member Benefits that are available to you through your membership in the Association. Click on the link or visit www.neamb.com. All tips are archived on the Works-4-Me website.
TEACHER LEARNING COMMUNITY FREE WEBINARS
FREE Webinars From the Teacher Learning Community are FREE and open to EVERYONE!
MAKE KNOWLEDGE YOUR SUPER POWER!
Civics resources for teachers and students -
Civics education is critical to fostering engaged citizens who understand our democracy and the liberties it protects. The State Bar of Texas wants to ensure Texas students and teachers have the resources they need to fully explore the important role of the judicial system in our country and state.
NEXT STEPS DISCIPLINE
Esther D, High School Teacher
I've run the gamut on class rules. I've had at the most seven, then later five, and now three. I developed these in a large group discussion with my class. I guided the discussion around the question, “what things should students do in order to be successful?” When they had identified 3 things, I wrote them on the board and then asked all the students if they thought they could do them. Then I told them that they were our rules:
HIGH SCHOOL TICKET REWARDS
Barb D, Math, Payson High School - Payson, AZ
There are a few different ways I offer rewards to my high school students. I have a “Two Minute Free Tardy Pass,” which allows students to arrive two minutes late (or to leave class two minutes early) without penalty. I’m careful not to give too many minutes, so students will not miss direct instruction. And students are not allowed to uses passes in combination: they can’t redeem four two-minute passes and arrive at class 8 minutes late.
I teach math and assign daily homework and frequent tests, so some of my rewards are tied to these assignments. One of my students’ all-time favorites is the “1/2 = 1 Whole Pass.” It allows a student to turn in 1/2 the assignment and receive full credit. I also have “One Day Late” and “Skip One Question” passes.
STOPPING LATE WORK
Michael Yeakey, English, Cheraw Middle School - Cheraw, CO
I agonized for years about students turning in late work. My first strategy was to reduce the final grade by one percentage point for each day an assignment was late. But this was a nightmare. Now, my students are allowed to turn in one assignment late every grading period, no questions asked. After that, late assignments are not accepted for credit, but they still need to be completed.
Changes To Member Benefits
New Ways To Save
Effective 8/31/10 our contract with Educator Access expired. Members have the ability to use the NEA Member Benefits Click & Save program for discount services, which is NEA's most popular discount program for NEA members and their families! This exclusive shopping service offers savings on brand name merchandise from hundreds of top retailers, online stores and local merchants.
In order to use Click & Save, go to http://www.neamb.com/home/home.htm. If you are not registered, please complete the registration form at your earliest convenience. At the bottom of the registration form, click on "Are you a member of NEA or an NEA Affiliate?". Once this is complete you have access to Click & Save discounts.
An added benefit is that you can have 3 other family members register to use Click & Save by clicking the bottom of the registration for on "I am not an NEA member, but I am related to an NEA member."
Once you have registered and logged in to the site go to "Everyday Life" and click on Discounts. You will find Click & Save and start shopping! Good luck and happy hunting!
NEA Member Benefits of the Week:
CALLING ALL BLOGGERS
NEA Member Benefits has launched the first social networking website designed specifically with educators and Education Support Professionals (ESPs) in mind. The NEAMB Community is in partnership with TeachAde and can be found at http://www.neamb.com/home/1209_2421.htm.
Our personal favorite blog is called “Money Talk” and is written by Elizabeth Schruefer, who not only works at NEA Member Benefits but is also a Certified Financial Planner. Elizabeth updates her blog every Wednesday with a new posting.
We encourage you to register (it’s EASY!) at http://www.teachade.com/register.do and then check out Elizabeth’s blog (and the others on the site). If you have suggestions for other blogs or communities, go ahead and get them started as it is something you are able to do on TeachAde.
In addition to the above, there is a section where you can set up your classroom to be “adopted.”
ADOPT-A-CLASSROOM
Have parents ever asked you "How can I help?" or "Do you need any supplies?" Well now, thanks to Adopt-A-Classroom you can provide them a way to directly support you and their child's learning. Adopt-A-Classroom allows any teacher (public or private) to register, then anyone (parents, local businesses, families etc.) can make tax-deductible donations to the class -- to help you purchase the materials your classroom needs.
Adopt-A-Classroom is easy-to-use and 100% of the donation goes to you, the teacher; Adopt-A-Classroom takes $0 out for administration costs.
Go ahead and register today! IMPORTANT: When registering your class, be sure to choose 'TeachAde NEA Member Benefits' in the 'How did you hear about Adopt-A-Classroom?' drop-down box.
You can print out and copy this Donor Card to hand out to parents, and print this flyer to share with your colleagues.
If you have any questions check out the informational video.
