Sometimes the many everyday responsibilities that come with being an educator can make for a tunnel-like focus on the long list of items that need to be done today. That’s why adults’ reminiscences about teachers who influenced their lives in profound ways can be such a great reminder about why we do what we do.…
DetailsCongress is working on a re-write to No Child Left Behind (NCLB) — the current iteration of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Educators know firsthand how important it is that a new version of the law allows students to learn rather than focus on high-stakes standardized tests. This is an important moment for American education.…
DetailsProfessional Development and Evaluation Committees (PDEC) are beginning to review and revise teacher evaluation plans for next year, and CEA is offering resources to support the committees in their work. New resources available at CEA.org are as follows. Teacher Evaluation Plan Review and Revision: What should your PDEC do? This PowerPoint presentation outlines five basic…
DetailsTeachers are being asked to fit more and more into the school day, but studies are showing that a single-minded focus on academics isn’t necessarily the best way to improve student learning and well-being. According to Time, schools that have experimented with mindfulness or meditation programs are seeing positive results. Some of the studies Time…
DetailsWhatever your role in education, these days you hear one company named over and over again: Pearson. The publishing giant has its hand not only in test creation, but professional development programs, data systems, online learning, and much more. Pearson is so omnipresent that it has become the first place many states and districts turn…
DetailsMost districts in Connecticut have had plenty of snow days in recent weeks and there’s a good chance we’ll see more this winter. Sometimes canceling school is an easy call, but on days when the forecast isn’t clear superintendents can struggle with the right call. A study by Harvard Kennedy School Assistant Professor Joshua Goodman…
DetailsNEA Member Benefits offers savings for teachers every day of the year. Below are the special offers for February. NEA Click & Save, the online discount buying service for NEA members, highlights select retailers and merchants each month. Check out these featured “Buy-lights” for February. Sephora (cosmetics): Free 3-day shipping on orders of $50 or…
DetailsThe first administration of SBAC that will yield student and school level results is coming soon, and State Department of Education (SDE) Officials say they think districts are ready, but they’re not so sure about parents. “I stay up at night worrying about how to prepare people for this,” said Chief Academic Officer Ellen Cohn. Cohn…
DetailsTeachers are busy and Saturdays are precious, but you can learn a lot and connect with other new teachers in just a few hours at a regional new teacher conference convenient to you. CEA’s New Teacher Conference has been redesigned this year into four Regional New Teacher Conferences, giving you a variety of dates, locations,…
DetailsSchools are always looking for fun ways to encourage students to get excited about reading, and Stepney Elementary in Monroe was able to achieve that goal recently with a visit from Bridgeport Sound Tigers hockey team players. The players were invited as celebrity guest readers for a special read aloud at the school. They shared…
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