New York TeacherMay 2, 2019
![New York Teacher Cover - May 2, 2019 - Learning in leaps and bounds](/sites/default/files/styles/medium_auto/public/photo/nyt-cover-learning-leaps-and-bounds-050219.png?itok=6SY4IXBG)
Latest News
![Legislation - generic](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/photo/legislation.jpg?itok=1JZwH-qU)
Tennessee looks to override local charter caps
Tennessee is on track to create a new state commission that could override local governments’ attempts to limit charter school expansion. Legislation to establish the commission passed both houses of the state Legislature, and Tennessee’s Republican governor, Bill Lee, is expected to sign it.
![Person filling out a bubble test](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/photo/bubble-test-generic.png?itok=j4yQEFIv)
Test scores out in eval
The UFT achieved its long-sought goal of eliminating the requirement that student test scores be a factor in the Annual Professional Performance Review process in the state budget approved by the state Legislature and Governor Andrew Cuomo on March 31.
![American Arbitration Association staff count the UFT election ballots on April 1](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/photo/mulgrew-re-elected-231-vote-04.jpg?itok=8a9ArnBs)
Mulgrew re-elected UFT president
UFT members elected Michael Mulgrew to a fourth term as president of the union with 86.2 percent of the votes cast. The American Arbitration Association announced the tally on April 18.
Member Spotlight
Chapter Leader Shoutout
![Chapter Leader Shoutout for Melissa Alvarez Melissa Alvarez](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photo/shoutout-225-alvarez-02.jpg?h=6f16d9c5&itok=p0DPLKt7)
Kudos to Melissa Alvarez, John Bowne HS in Flushing, Queens
Melissa Alvarez, the chapter leader at John Bowne HS in Flushing, Queens, used the new dispute resolution process in the DOE-UFT contract to get a speedy response to a safety violation: no teacher assigned to the high school’s SAVE room.
Around the UFT
![Displaying winning smiles are (from left): Excellence in Education Award winner](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/photo/highlighting-power-221-0012.jpg?itok=4sEBuF9f)
Highlighting the power of teamwork
The power of team work was on display at the annual Academic High Schools Awards Celebration on April 12 at UFT headquarters in Manhattan, where outstanding city educators, public high schools and union activists were honored.
![Chamaine Smith (second from left), a paraprofessional at PS 70 in the Bronx, and](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/photo/tech4all-information-233-tech-07.jpg?itok=LJynjMyx)
Tech4All information session and job fair
Tech4All, an all-day information session and technology job fair, drew 500 participants and 25 employers to the UFT's Bronx borough office on April 3.
![Shauna Innis (fourth from right) of PS 66, the district’s Outstanding Paraprofes](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/photo/district-12-scholarship-218-d12-awards-03.jpg?itok=4APd8ooh)
District 12 Scholarship Committee breakfast
The turnout “exploded” — reaching 330 — at District 12’s April 13 Scholarship Committee breakfast at which 24 students were awarded new laptops.
![Ashika Hassan, an ESL teacher at MS 210 in Queens, takes the Lesson Planning Wit](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/photo/shakespeare-makes-211-middle-school-13.jpg?itok=dgCom4cP)
Shakespeare makes an appearance
Some 250 educators turned out for the UFT’s sixth annual Middle School Conference at union headquarters on March 30. The theme was William Shakespeare.
![Parent Hashim Muhamad Graham (standing) of Medgar Evers College Prep in Brooklyn](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/photo/school-leadership-team-meeting-230-0472.jpg?itok=PAV1s0FT)
School Leadership Team meeting at UFT Brooklyn borough office
The School Leadership Team at PS 1 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, held its April 8 meeting at the UFT’s Brooklyn borough office and turned it into a learning experience for parents and educators.
You Should Know
Grants, Awards & Freebies
![A teacher with young students A teacher with young students](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/grants-awards-190385567_m.jpg?itok=QBA85Vo9)
Grants, Awards & Freebies
See our list of current opportunities for educators to receive funds and recognition for their hard work and dedication.
You Should Know
![Sneakers with arrows Sneakers with arrows](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photo/nysut-member-benefits-79440865-s.jpg?h=d92b63cf&itok=cmZqzycA)
NYSUT Member Benefits-endorsed programs
Are you planning to retire soon from active employment? If so, you’ll need to maintain your UFT membership as a retiree to continue participating in NYSUT Member Benefits-endorsed programs and services.
Secure Your Future
![TRS resources and information TRS resources and information](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photo/trs-resources.jpg?h=b90af69d&itok=JQ44BUU2)
TRS goes paperless
In the fall of 2018, the Teachers’ Retirement System announced an operational change that will save money and be good for the environment: TRS stopped mailing paper Quarterly Account Statements to retirement system members it can reach via email.
Opinions
President's Perspective
![Michael Mulgrew listing image Headshot Michael Mulgrew listing image Headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photos/mulgrew-official-03-2021.jpg?h=77569983&itok=QEJuqI2X)
The charter school fight
At long last, the New York State Legislature that is more inclined to support pro-teacher, pro-public school policies. There was no lifting of the charter cap included in this year’s budget. But the charter school industry has regrouped. This fight is not over.
VPerspective
![Union Proud logo Union Proud logo](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photo/union-proud-logo-thumb.jpg?h=8372a1da&itok=9HdhmpLz)
Anti-unionists threaten all of us
Today, like never before, our collective bargaining rights, benefits and protections are under fire. Our enemies will spread rumors and misinformation designed to undermine working people. They will pretend to be our friends when their goal is to hurt us. If we fall prey to their lies, we risk losing everything.
Editorials
![Patient in hospital Patient in hospital](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photo/patient-hospital.jpg?h=a82c1e85&itok=cWXRkIj4)
Protection for patients
It’s easily among most people’s greatest fears: Having a medical emergency when you’re far from home, whether it’s an accident or a serious illness.
Editorials
![Fed-up teachers formed Arizona Educators United and began protesting under the # Fed-up teachers formed Arizona Educators United and began protesting under the #](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photo/arizona-teachers-latest-arizona.jpg?h=3a8a6fd8&itok=tsUZAFxN)
Appreciating teachers
Teacher Appreciation Week is May 6–10, as good a time as any to take stock of how teachers are viewed by the public at large.
Editorial Cartoons
Teaching Resources
Linking to Learning
![power-thinking-duolingo1.jpg Duolingo courses use a gaming structure with the threat of losing “lives” with m](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photo/power-thinking-duolingo1.jpg?itok=rVFmsyNB)
Online sites for language learning
As technology has developed, so have methods for using technology to learn a language. These programs aren’t meant as a replacement for in-class language instruction, but they can be effective supports to extend and continue learning both in and out of the classroom.
Teacher to Teacher
![The eight types of thinking maps are (clockwise from top left): circle maps, bub The eight types of thinking maps are (clockwise from top left): circle maps, bub](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photo/power-thinking-maps.jpg?h=5dfa47f8&itok=5MfK_TeC)
The power of thinking maps
In my 3rd-grade classroom, my students use thinking maps — which are not graphic organizers! — to represent their ideas. Each type of thinking map connects a basic cognitive skill with a visual representation.
Building Your Career
Building Your Career
![](/sites/default/files/styles/landscape_3x2_scale_and_crop_330x220/public/photo/inside-classroom-alexa.jpg?itok=rreaPiSW)
Amazon Alexa plays an important role in my class routine
Each student in my 3rd-grade class takes a turn as ‘Alexa’s friend of the day.’
New Teacher Articles
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Is your teaching certificate about to expire?
With summer just around the corner, it’s crucial to meet upcoming deadlines for certification if your current teaching certificate is near its expiration date.
Retired Teachers News
![Tom Murphy](/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/photos/tom-murphy-column-art-2022-2.jpg?itok=iFn-H-NC)
Understanding senior voter tendencies
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) recently asked me to fill its held position on the Senior Council of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Since the Council’s purpose is to offer advice on strategic issues and policies important to retirees’ economic security and general livelihood, I gladly agreed.
Medicare Part B / IRMAA
Most of our retired members on Medicare should have received their 2018 Medicare Reimbursement by May 1, 2019. The 2018 Medicare Part B Reimbursement will be electronically deposited into the same account as the pension payment.