Starting School: Tips for Teachers from Teachers

Starting School and Eating Right From Joanne Tickner (jmtickner@hotmail.com), a speech and language therapist for Midland Public Schools in Midland, Michigan: "With the start of the new school year just a few weeks away, you can do yourself a favor by freezing some of your favorite dinners now. As you have (perhaps) a little more time now than you will when the year begins, simply double the recipes you make, and label and freeze for those nights when you come home late and are too tired to cook. It can make the stress of beginning a new year seem a little less. It can also help keep you from snacking on unhealthy foods if you know you have something prepared waiting for you at home." Comment on This Tip More Starting School Tips Emergency Plans From Ronda Christoph (christrl@milwaukee.k12.wi.us), an English teacher at Pulaski School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin: "Near the beginning of the year, I make an emergency lesson plan box. I use an empty file folder box. In it, I place a packet of work that will cover a block schedule period. I make enough copies for all my classes, including an answer sheet and detailed plans for a substitute to teach the worksheets in the packet. I then add a copy of my seating chart and class lists. I put this box under or near my desk in case I have an emergency where I am unable to make other plans. I let my department chair know about my plan box, so she does not have to suddenly create plans for my substitute." Comment on This Tip More Substitute Teacher Tips Question of the Week: Using Humor From the Works4Me Worker Bees: "We've all heard the refrain, ‘Don't smile until Christmas.’ The idea is to establish classroom discipline early in the school year by being a tough, stern figure of authority. But there is another way. Humor can be a very effective classroom management tool. Humor can diffuse or de-escalate behavior problems, help students relax, and enable students to be more willing to experiment with new ideas and be less afraid to make mistakes. How do you create a classroom that encourages the positive use of humor?" Send Us Your Answer View Replies & Post Your Tip

Survival Advice Heard Last Week in the Works4Me Lounge: "As college students training to become teachers, you can only learn so much. Reading books, listening to lectures and student teaching can only get you so far. It's a whole different ball game once you're alone with your students on that first day of school. What advice would you give to new teachers to help them survive their first day in the classroom?" Comment on This Tip More Professional Tips

Submit a Tip We couldn't do it without you! Click here to submit a tip or reply to this email. Please contribute your own brief, practical, broadly applicable classroom tip to Works4Me. When submitting a tip, please include your full name, school, specific assignment (grade/subject), city and state. This newsletter is only as good as the tips we receive, so send your ideas today.

Take Advantage of NEA Member Benefits & Enjoy a Pizza Lunch on NEA MB

Nancy Haig of NEA Member Benefits is buying lunch for all of you who are interested in starting or changing over your IRA or other 403B programs to the NEA Member Benefits program. There was a change in the law last spring. Please make sure that your retirement savings will continue to grow.

Nancy represents NEA Valuebuilder and will be meeting at 11:00 on Tuesday in Room 403 in the High School. Please let your Association representative (see the sidebar for your building representatives email address) or Kim Muta know if you plan on attending by the end of the day today. We want to make sure we have enough pizza for everyone.

Hope to see you there.

LCEA welcomes our new colleagues

We're glad that you're here at LC. We look forward to involving you in our very successful local Association. As you may have gathered, we are the voice for professional practitioners at Lewis Central and we look forward to your involvement in our successful local Association.

When we stand together, we become somthing truly mighty!

One in one-hundred Americans are members of the National Education Association. Our work together has benefited our students, our colleagues and the profession for generations to come.

You've no doubt been approached about membership. We are thankful that most of you have already signed up to be the newest members of the LCEA. We'll be contacting the rest of you again soon. We know that membership in our national, state and local Association demonstrates our professionalism. Join your colleagues in leaving our noble profession standing "taller" because of our efforts.

LCEA membership is rich with benefits.

A special welcome to our new colleagues:

KREFT TEACHERS

April Gradoville, 1st Grade; Analise Letner, Kindergarten; Ann Nun, Kindergarten;

TITAN HILL TEACHERS

Andrew Brei, 2-5 PE; Deanne Dunphy, 5th Grade; Kristin Grandick, 2nd Grade; Ashley Smith, 5th Grade; Angela Wilder, 2-5 Counselor

MIDDLE SCHOOL TEACHERS

Mary Bleth, Language Arts; Jennifer Buckingham, Vocal Music; Misti Groat, Special Education; Trudy Kimble, Language Arts; Tracie Meyer Special Education

HIGH SCHOOL TEACHERS

Jess Bond, PE/Health; Gina Pearson, Special Education; Ryan Pivonka, Vocal Music, Kristine Rutledge, English; Jennifer Williams, ESL




We are happy to help you with the following electronic resources. Please let us know at lceainsider@cox.net if you want to know more about any of these tools.

LCEA Substitute Teacher Form for New Teachers

LCEA Beginning Teachers Guide to Evaluation

LCEA to Host ISEA Professional Development Academy Class in True Colors for Relicensure and Graduate Credit

LCEA Privileges Exclusive to ISEA Members

Other ISEA's Professional Development Academy classes available for Master's degree credit

• Using the Iowa Teaching Standards
• Improving Teaching Through Reflection on National Standards
• Assessing Portfolio Entries
• Exploring National Board Certification: Pre-Candidacy
• I CAN DO IT Plus! Classroom Management Techniques
• Increasing Student Effort and Responsibility
• Using Real Colors
• Learning Strategies that Address Childhood Obesity Through Physical Activity and Nutrition Education

Career Development, Performance Review & Intensive Assistance

Top Ten Ways for New Teachers to Survive and Thrive

Be Your Own Best Advocate

Order Form for ISEA's 'Framework for Understanding the Iowa Teaching Standards'

Use ISEA Access to Save Money

For school supplies, apparel, electronics, you'll enjoy back-to-school savings with your ISEA Access Card. Allow your membership card to work for you at Barnes & Noble, Verizon, Christopher & Banks, Dell, Bose, Best Western, Target.com, and more...

Did you know about these LOCAL savings available to you?

Burgers On Broadway 10% off any purchase at regular price.

Kum & Go Free 16-ounce Koolee with purchase of 16-ounce Koolee. Coupon required.

Blimpie 50 cents off any size malt.

Budget Blinds 30% off Select Signature Series� Window Treatments. Coupon required.

Taco John's Free Crunchy Chicken & Potato Burrito EZ Combo Meal when you purchase a Crunchy Chicken & Potato Burrito EZ Combo Meal of equal or greater value

Christopher & Banks Save 20% on any regular priced merchandise. . Coupon required.

Fred Meyer Jewelers 10% off any jewelry repair.

Impromptu Gourmet Receive a FREE package of Apple Dumplings With Your Order of $75 or More!

Bar & Grill Goldmine Free entree with purchase of entree of equal or greater value.

Learning Tools Free dozen pencils with purchase of same at regular price.

Domino's Pizza FREE Medium 1-Topping Pizza With Purchase Of A Large Pizza At Menu Price When You Order Online! There are 100's of more ways to save using your ISEA Access Card. Click here to check some of the savings out near us.

A Brand New Benefit for Brand New Members

If you’re new to the NEA in the 2008-2009 membership year, you’ll be getting off to a good start with a new benefit from the NEA Members Insurance Trust®!

The NEA Introductory Term Life InsuranceSM Program provides you $15,000 in term life coverage—at no cost—for your first full year of membership. The coverage begins on your effective date of membership and continues for twelve months. At the end of the twelve months you may purchase the coverage at great members-only rates with no evidence of insurability!

Starting in September, register your beneficiaries online on the NEA Member Benefits Web Site at neamb.com. While you’re there, take a look at the other insurance options for protecting yourself and your family. For more information, call our Member Service Center toll free at 1-800-637-4636.

Get Your FREE Subscription to Instructor magazine!

The NEA Magazine Service is excited to help NEA members—especially elementary school educators—start the school year off right. At http://www.neamag.com/instructor you can sign up for your free one-year subscription to Instructor, the K-8 resource filled with innovative and practical teaching ideas. While you’re at the site, check out over a thousand other titles at up to 85% off newsstand prices. Great deals for you; great deals for gifts!

FREE RESOURCES Visit the NEA.org web site!

Visit the NEA.org web site!

1. TOP 20 BACK-TO-SCHOOL RESOURCES
   Find lessons & activities for starting the school year, plus tips for welcoming new students, setting up your classroom, and meeting parents.
2. PLANNING FOR YOUR FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL
   On the first day of school, the secret to success is in the planning, not the pedagogy. How's your back-to-school planning going? Have you forgotten anything? Our checklist can help!
3. "SOPHOMORES" GIVE ADVICE TO "FRESHMEN"
   Second-year teachers reflect on first-year success and give advice to new teachers.
4. CREATE YOUR OWN CLASSROOM OLYMPIC GAMES
   Students in all grade levels compete in interdisciplinary activities that emphasize a wide variety of skills and knowledge as well as some luck.
5. LESSON PLANS, CLASSROOM RESOURCES, AND MORE
   
   • Lesson Ideas
   • Classroom Management
   • Do the Right Thing
   • The Teaching Experience
   • Works4Me
   • Dropout Prevention
   • Professional Development
   • Grants & Resources

Check out these articles and many more resources for educators at NEA.org!

LCEA Executive Board Meeting Minutes 8/13/2008

Place: High School Room 403
Time: 2:00

CLICK HERE for a Word version of the LCEA Executive Board Meeting Minutes from August 13, 2008.

Roll Call: Dave Bergman, Kim Muta, Jennifer Doorlag, Sharon Crawley (absent), Barb Motes
HS Reps: Tom McLaughlin, Allison Towne, Brian Johnson (absent), Ruth Kreger (absent)
MS Reps: Margot Argotsinger, Beth Frank (absent), Al Lorenz
TH Reps: Susan Drustrup, Lisa Scieszinski, Jennifer Stroup (absent), Joanna Stenlund (absent)
Kreft Reps: LoriAnn Brougham, Mary Broughton (absent), Lee Dwyer

Approval of Agenda: Dave Bergman
• Tom McLaughlin moved that the agenda be approved, Susan Drustrup seconded the motion, and it passed.

New Business:
• Membership dues—Jennifer Doorlag shared a treasurer’s report. We talked about whether and how much to raise LCEA dues. Tom McLaughlin moved that we raise the 2008-2009 dues to $32, with the intention of raising dues by $2 each year for five years pending yearly Board approval. Loriann Brougham seconded it. The motion passed with one abstention.
• Membership materials—Kim Muta explained the materials and the procedure for handling membership before the Aug. 14 district meeting.
• Tom McLaughlin asked about a door prize. Barb Motes moved that we have two $25 gas cards to give away at the district meeting. Susan Drustrup seconded it, and the motion passed.
• Tom McLaughlin talked about having a voter registration/absentee ballot table at the district meeting.
• Tom McLaughlin explained the Teachers for Gronstal organization. There is an event at Barley’s on Sept. 26.
• Jobs: Loriann Brougham has the Kreft box, Lisa Scieszinski and Susan Drustrup have the Titan Hill box, Margie Argotsinger has the Middle School box, Allison Towne has the High School box, Kim Muta has the new teacher box (and she will collect T-shirt sizes), Tom McLaughlin will get information about Exec. Board shirts, and he will handle the voter registration/absentee ballot table. Lee Dwyer will do the tickets.
• Barb Motes asked whether she could get key chains for members’ birthdays. Kim Muta moved that she do that, Allison Towne seconded it, and the motion passed.
• Al Lorenz raised the issue of the professionalism (or lack thereof) at the arbitration meeting.

Adjournment
Allison Towne moved that the meeting be adjourned, Susan Drustrup seconded the motion, and the meeting adjourned at 3:05.

Tips to Calm Students at the Beginning of the Year

LCEA Offers Tips for Parents & Educators on Common Beginning of the Year Tips on Handling Anxiety
by Dr. Ruth Peters, clinical psychologist. For more information you can visit her Web site at www.ruthpeters.com.

The first day of school is quickly approaching, and kids are anticipating that event with mixed anticipation and apprehension. Old pros, although understanding the routine and structure of the day, still experience a bit of the first-day jitters as they wonder who will be in their classes and how they will fit in socially during the school year. Kids new to the scene (entering kindergarten, middle and high school) may have additional concerns, including how to find their way around the new campus, whether they will have someone to sit with in the cafeteria for lunch and how they will get along with the teachers and be able to compete academically.

Kindergarten

The big enchilada: real school, homework, larger classes, longer days and crowded hallways. Many children, especially those with older siblings, have longed for this rite of passage. But others may be fearful of the change from the small, loving and comfortable preschool situation. How to make this an easier, more fun transition for your little one? Well, attention to a few issues and some major empathy on your part may do the trick. Usually your child’s concerns fall into two categories — getting through the day in one piece (schedules, how the day will proceed) and emotional fears. Let’s begin with the basics:

Where’s the bathroom and when can I use it? Good question, one deserving of a very concrete, complete and definite answer! Many kindergarten classrooms are set up with a bathroom or two situated right in the classroom so that the little kids don’t mingle with the older students or have to travel outside of the class (and find their way back!) every time nature calls. Also, hand-washing time is much easier if the sink is just a few steps away. Tell your child that the teacher will have a policy about when and how to use the bathroom. Often, it’s on an as-needed basis, or the child may have to ask to be excused from the learning environment. But it’s usually a quick and easy process and the other students usually don’t notice a frequent potty user, if that’s one of your kid’s concerns.

What if I don’t make it to the bathroom and have an accident? Another good question, and again, easily answered! It’s quite common for teachers to request an extra set of underwear and pants, packed in a large zip-locked plastic bag just for this occasion. Tell your child that this is quite commonplace, and to just alert the teacher to their situation and a clean change of clothes will do the trick. No one else has to know about it, and therefore this is nothing to be concerned about.

What if I get hungry? Will they feed me? Yep, and it’s fun, too. Explain about snack and lunch time, how your youngster will probably have the option of bringing both or buying lunch in the cafeteria. Discuss how snack will occur mid-morning and lunch an hour or so later in the day. Ask your son or daughter what they would like for you to pack, and let them consider making their own snacks and lunches either the night before or early in the morning. Discuss how snack usually occurs in the classroom at their tables (which they will be sharing with another child or two), and that lunch will take place in the larger cafeteria. Most kindergarten students are segregated during lunchtime to their own special tables and areas, so they don’t mix with the older kids. Take your child to a buffet or cafeteria-style dining establishment and explain that the lunch line at school will be similar. This may also be a good, teachable moment to discuss some nutrition tips about selecting the best foods during lunchtime. Most local newspapers offer the public school lunch schedules, and you and your child can review them before the school week begins.

Do I have to take a nap? Sure, but you don’t have to fall asleep! By kindergarten, teachers realize that most kids won’t fall asleep (although some are out for the count within a few seconds of their heads hitting the cots!), but benefit from 45 minutes or so of rest and relaxation. Some teachers quietly read a book while others play soothing music. Emphasize that it won’t be an incredibly boring two hours of lying quietly on a cold floor! It’s often a sought-after respite by pooped-out kids, and many enjoy listening to the stories.

Will I have homework like my older brother has? “Yes, but it will be fun and interesting” is the best answer to this question! Many little ones look forward to the idea of homework as it reeks of being a “big kid.” Tell your child that there will probably be a few minutes of coloring, cutting or copying to do at the beginning of the year, but that it’s all fun, enjoyable stuff and that you, as a parent, can’t wait to help and get involved in the process. Make it a positive, exciting idea, not an activity to be dreaded.

What happens first? Then what do we do? It’s a good idea to call the school and ask for a daily schedule of activities to review with your child. But, in general you can tell your son that the day begins by putting their book bags in their cubbies and meeting on the circle line for the morning ritual — the Pledge of Allegiance, a short discussion of the day’s events, the calendar reviewed and perhaps a story read. Then it’s on to some seat work, then center time, snack, recess, more seat work, and then lunch. Usually this is followed by nap or quiet time, and then the “specials” (art, music and dance). Then it’s pack up and get ready for dismissal time.

Emotional issues:

What if the other kids don’t like me? Ugh, the dreaded fear of many children. Empathize with your child, telling her that most kids have a little worry about this, but are pleasantly surprised at how nice and friendly the children are. Remind her that all of her fellow students will be new to the situation and needing to make friends. Explain that she’ll be placed, most likely, at a table with a few other kids and that she’ll have a chance to quickly get to know them. Recess is also a great place to make friends, as is lunch. You may want to role-play some “small talk” with your child, especially if she is on the shy side. Rehearse with dolls or stuffed animals before the school year begins. Try scripts like, “Hi, my name is Megan, what’s yours?” That’s sure to get a positive response as well as being a good conversation starter. Discuss how to join into others’ games, by saying — “Hey, that looks like fun and I know how to play four-square. Can I have a turn?” Another sure bet is to invite another kid to sit next to your child during snack time or recess. Explain to your child how others are probably feeling just as nervous or uncertain, and will love being invited to sit with, share activities or play with your child.

What if you don’t pick me up on time? That’s a common fear of little ones, and something that is usually under your control. Tell her that you’ll be in the car line on time (but don’t promise to be first — that’s definitely not always an option and really scares the kids when they don’t see your car heading up the line!). Let her know that she may have to wait a few minutes for you, but that’s normal and nothing is wrong. If your child rides a bus home or a van to day care, explain the process and how the adults will make sure that she’ll be safe.

What if the teacher doesn’t like me? Explain to your child that kindergarten teachers are perhaps the nicest folks on earth! They’ve chosen to work with little ones because they love children and are usually warm, funny and understanding people. Emphasize how your child can trust the teacher and go to him or her with any concerns.

What if I’m the dumbest kid in the class? This is a good entrée to getting out the crayons, pencils and scissors and reviewing with your little one some of the skills that will be needed in class. Review the colors, shapes and the alphabet letters that she knows. Practice cutting, coloring and copying — but don’t overdo it. Praise her effort (regardless of the final product) and let her know that she’s right on target for the beginning of the school year. Emphasize that raising her hand to answer questions (and not calling out the answers), sitting quietly on the circle line and staying in her seat are responsibilities and skills that will need to be finely honed. It’s a good time to begin working on some of these at home, in the weeks before school begins.

And don’t forget the excitement of shopping for the lunchbox, book bag and school clothes. Many kids love to wear a new outfit the first day, but don’t be surprised if your child decides on something that he wore at preschool. It may be comforting to take a bit of the old with him as he enters into the new!

Finally, if possible, visit the school beforehand. Try playing on the playground and looking into the classroom windows, or take a tour if it's available. Review the floor plan of the building, at least the part between arrival at school and finding her classroom. Discuss how you’ll handle that the first few days of school. If you can, arrange for a short meeting with the teacher and a quick look at the classroom. Be prepared for a bit of clinginess the first week or so. Then, on the first day of school, hand the child over to the teacher (she’s the expert on this) and try to have a good day!

Grade school kids
Children in the older grade school years are concerned about many of the above-mentioned issues, but are also becoming more keenly aware of the challenges of academics as well as fitting in with peers. They tend to be concerned about:

*Will they understand the material and answer correctly in class
*Will classmates laugh at them if a mistake is made
*Whether the teacher will be understanding or take strictness to a new level
*Whether they can keep up with the kids on the playground or in P.E. class
*Whether they will be chosen for sports teams or have to endure the embarrassment of being last
*How appropriate their new clothes are and whether their “look” will fit in
*What if there is a bully and how they should handle it
*Who they can hang around with before the first bell rings in the morning
*How to start a conversation that doesn’t sound dumb
*Whether the kids who teased last year will still be focused upon them
*If their old friends will still be at school and available and want to hang around together

Kids in middle school

Tweens are often shocked when they finally hit the new campus. They have to learn to deftly maneuver between their locker and classes, figure out how to socialize in the hallways but get to class on time, and how to deal with a diverse group of peers who come from many different types of families, incomes and value systems. Whether truly interested or not in the opposite sex, many middle schoolers will talk about having a boyfriend or girlfriend and desire to hang out with friends at the movies or the mall. Campus communication, therefore, often centers upon socializing, music, sports and being cool. Many kids in middle school have their first brush with the drug culture (meeting peers who smoke marijuana or use inhalants) or who are not strangers to alcohol. In addition, first-day jitters may also include concerns with:

*Who they will talk, walk and sit with between classes and in the classroom
*Whether their clothing is appropriate and cool
*Whether they will be welcome at the lunchroom table
*Where they will fit in — the preps, jocks, nerds, or the “random” group
*How they will adapt to six teachers and six classes a day
*Whether they will be able to successfully deal with a locker, remembering to bring books and folders to class
*How to deal with rough kids, those who tease or bully
*If they will get a boy- or girlfriend and how to deal with it

High schoolers

In talking with teens personally as well as professionally, I’ve found that their greatest fears continue to be social in nature. Sure, many are concerned about grades or getting along with their teachers, but as teens become more conscious of peers, fitting in versus being ostracized, and the potential of “becoming invisible” to others at school, it’s the social dilemmas that seem to pervade their thoughts as they move into the new school year.

Concerns about dealing with kids from different backgrounds, shyness, and making sports teams or clubs are worrisome to many teens as they contemplate the beginning of a new school year. Will this be the year that your son or daughter can finally relax and feel included with the group, or will it be filled with uncertainty and worry about having kids to hang around with in and outside school? In particular, those in high school are concerned with:

* Learning conversation starters so as not to appear, or to feel, awkward
* Whether clothing is the correct style
* Body image — how your daughter feels about her figure and the way she looks in her clothes, or your son compares his height and musculature to the other guys
* Hairstyle — never underestimate how a bad hair day can lead to early morning drama before leaving for school!
* Fear of harassment, teasing or bullying
* Ability to hold down a part-time job as well as to complete homework
* Getting a new start this year — will the kids remember the embarrassing moments of last year?
* Attracting an appropriate boyfriend or girlfriend
* Being the “third wheel” when their best friend begins a new romantic relationship
* Being able to move in and between different groups of friends without offending anyone

So, how can parents help their children with the first-day jitters for these older kids? Here are some suggestions to consider:

*If your child is moving up to middle or high school, they probably know at least a few kids who will be going to the new campus with them. Try to get the kids together over the summer to strengthen friendships so that they will have someone to hang out with the first week of class.

*Encourage contact between kids who may not have touched base over the summer. This can be accomplished via telephone calls, e-mails or instant messaging. It’s easy to reestablish friendships — just a few questions about “How’d you spend your summer?” often does the trick.

*Most schools have an orientation night a few days before school begins. Be sure to attend, and encourage your child to go also. He or she may see some familiar and friendly faces to buddy up with, or may be able to make some new acquaintances that can be strengthened if they find themselves together in class or in the cafeteria.

*Encourage the kids to plan to eat lunch together the first day or two of school, or to meet a few minutes early at the lockers. Comparing schedules and having someone to walk with to the next class or lunch comes in handy, and helps to relieve first-day jitters.

*Also encourage your child to be friendly to new kids — that not only helps to ease their own anxieties, but it broadens your youngster’s social horizons, and they may find that the new friends are just as compatible, dependable and fun as are their old buddies.

*Hold off on some school clothing purchases. After seeing what the other kids are wearing the first week or two, it’s nice to be able to pick up a few new outfits after school begins.

*Listen to your child’s concerns about hairstyle and set an appointment with a kid-approved stylist.

*Acne issues? Now’s the time to see the dermatologist to help your child make the best impression on that first day at school.

If your child is moving to a new school where he or she will not know others, consider these tips and share them with your child so that they know you’re there to help in any reasonable fashion:

*Again, make it your business to attend the orientation evening with your child in tow. He or she may meet a kid or two in the same boat, and they can swap phone numbers and make plans to sit together in the cafeteria the first day of school. To many children the thought of knowing no one and having to eat alone at the end of a table full of kids who already are friendly is a frightening thought. Many end up spending their lunch break sitting alone or wandering in the library.

*Take your child for a tour of the school so that he or she can become acquainted with the layout, bathroom placement, cafeteria, gym and library.

*Become active in the school if possible. This will allow you to meet other parents, and perhaps you’ll be able to stimulate some friendships for your child via the other moms and dads also volunteering.

*Highly encourage your child to join clubs, sports teams and to attend activities. Even if the kid could care less about the chess or drama clubs, at least she’ll be able to meet some other children and begin to make friends and establish familiarity with the other kids. Sports teams are excellent avenues for encouraging friendships — practice time after school often leads to going over to other’s homes on weekends for sleepovers or just pizza and a movie.

*Become best friends with the school guidance counselor. These folks are concerned that the kids feel comfortable in their school and usually have creative ways of getting kids together.

*Encourage your child’s involvement in study groups. Invite the group to your home and be sure to provide lots of food. Believe me, they will want to come back to your house!

Perhaps most important, though, is to make sure that you are really listening to your child. Asking “Did you have a good day at school today?” will probably yield a quick “Yes,” whether it’s true or not. Kids are often embarrassed to discuss their social fears, even with their parents. Ask more specific questions, such as:

*Who’d you eat lunch with today?
*Do you walk to class with anyone in particular or do you walk alone?
*Who do you talk to before, during and after class?
*Is anyone being particularly nice to you?
*Is anyone teasing or intimidating you?
*Have you found a favorite teacher that you would feel comfortable talking with if there was a peer problem?
*What groups, activities or sports teams are currently active, and would you consider joining at least one or more?
*How’s it going at your locker? Do you know anyone whose locker is near yours? Would you like to have your locker moved to be near your new friend?

Ultimately, it’s up to your child to make the connection and friendship with peers, but hopefully these tips will help you, the parent, make those first few weeks a bit less worrisome and more fun for your child.

PLEASE NOTE: The information in this column should not be construed as providing specific psychological or medical advice, but rather to offer readers information to better understand the lives and health of themselves and their children. It is not intended to provide an alternative to professional treatment or to replace the services of a physician, psychiatrist or psychotherapist.

LCEA Insider Graphic

403B Webinars available on iLinc

We have great news!

The Iowa Department of Administrative Services, Retirement Investors' Club (RIC) has scheduled several live 403b webinars for education employees through iLinc (our online conferencing tool). iLinc gives individuals the ability to attend live presentations online at their worksite or from their homes. Attendees only need access to the internet and a phone.

There is no cost to attend. These 90 minute sessions begin the week of August 11, 2008. An educator from the State's RIC will present basic information about the development of the

403b plan as well as pending changes updates. More sessions may be scheduled if needed. The sessions will be recorded so individuals who are unable to attend may still receive the information.

Registration is on a "first come, first serve" basis. Since seating is limited to 50 phone line connections per session, we encourage employers to consider the option of a group connection (see below). To register, check the box to the left of the session you wish to attend and scroll to the bottom of the list. Select the "register" button at the bottom of the page. Some email systems are rejecting the confirmations that come from iLinc. If you can, please add iLinc as a contact in your email system so you can receive their emails, or ask your technical support staff to allow iLinc emails for all employees.

Once you register, you will receive an email invitation with a link to test your system in advance of the session to make sure you are able to access it. Attendees will be able to view a Power Point presentation and submit questions for discussion during the session.

Register at the Iowa Department of Administrative Services iLinc Page or paste the following URL in your web browser https://iowa.ilinc.com/perl/ilinc/lms/event.pl?pp=403bPlan.

Employers are also able to request onsite sessions in which a Retirement Benefits Educator travels to your location to present program information and answer questions. Onsite sessions are available beginning September 2, 2008. There is a cost associated with onsite sessions.

Getting Involved in Your Child's Education

An article that educators can share with parents on-line or in a mailing that is done from school.

When parents are involved in their children's education, kids do better in school.1. Want to learn how to help your child achieve and succeed? Read on! You'll learn why involvement is so important and suggestions for how to get involved.

Also, be sure to check out our downloadable parent guides, developed in partnership with National Parent Teacher Organization (PTA).

Why Is Parental Involvement Important?

In study after study, researchers discover how important it is for parents to be actively involved in their child's education. Here are some of the findings of major research into parental involvement:

When parents are involved in their children's education at home, they do better in school. And when parents are involved in school, children go farther in school — and the schools they go to are better.

The family makes critical contributions to student achievement from preschool through high school. A home environment that encourages learning is more important to student achievement than income, education level or cultural background.

Reading achievement is more dependent on learning activities in the home than is math or science. Reading aloud to children is the most important activity that parents can do to increase their child's chance of reading success. Talking to children about books and stories read to them also supports reading achievement.

When children and parents talk regularly about school, children perform better academically.
Three kinds of parental involvement at home are consistently associated with higher student achievement: actively organizing and monitoring a child's time, helping with homework and discussing school matters.

The earlier that parent involvement begins in a child's educational process, the more powerful the effects.

Positive results of parental involvement include improved student achievement, reduced absenteeism, improved behavior, and restored confidence among parents in their children's schooling.

How Can Parents Get Involved?

Involvement in your child's education can mean:

Reading to your child

Checking homework every night

Discussing
your children's progress with teachers

Voting in school board elections

Helping your school to set challenging academic
standards

Limiting TV viewing on school nights

Becoming an advocate for better education in your community and state.

Or, it can be as simple as asking your children, "How was school today?" But ask every day. That will send your children the clear message that their schoolwork is important to you and you expect them to learn.

Some parents and families are able to be involved in their child's education in many ways.

Others may only have time for one or two activities. Whatever your level of involvement, do it consistently and stick with it because you will make an important difference in your child's life.
1. A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family and Community Connections on Student Achievement, National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education.What Research Says About Parent Involvement in Children's Education ( 252 KB, 4pp), Michigan Department of Education.Parent Involvement in Education, Kathleen Cotton and Karen Reed Wikelund, Northwest Regional Education Lab (NWRLB).

Association 101

You're in the largest professional union in the United States. Knowing what that means can make your job and your paycheck better. But only if you get involved.

By Cynthia Kopkowski

Ever faked a knowing nod when a veteran teacher starts talking about being in a "right-to-work state," and you're not really sure what she's talking about? Does "collective bargaining" just make you think of your third-period class trying to get out of having homework? As a new educator, it can seem easier to teach physics to first-graders than to learn about your own union, much less become an active and involved member of it. But you need to do all three—get in, get educated, and get active. Your committment has to go beyond just paying dues. But remember, the payoff is big. Check out our Association 101 glossary to understand some terms that are vital to Association work.

"I'm very involved in how I think the school should look," says Lawrence Garcia, 35, a middle school math teacher in Thornton, Colorado. But he knows he can't do it alone.

"Teachers sometimes feel alone and scared of what the principal will say if they speak up as a union member," says Samone Thomas, 36, a seventh-grade language arts teacher in Wichita, Kansas. "But that means you don't know you have all these thousands of people behind you working to make things better."

Having a basic understanding of your union, then building on it with personal involvement, are the first steps toward better working conditions, pay, and benefits.

So if you're ready to find out more about what you're getting for your investment (besides this magazine!), and how you can reap additional rewards through your involvement, here's a primer on what Association membership means. (First tip: Your membership means you belong to the local, state, and national Association.)

Help on the Job—If you want to become a better teacher, you're off to a good start. The Association offers its member teachers advice, training, and other assistance to boost skills in the classroom, including teacher evaluation, mentoring, and tools to help prepare for certification tests. NEA even has a Teacher Toolkit (www.nea.org/marketplace) with free basic tools to help you handle class rosters, daily attendance, and behavior and intervention logs. And the NEA Foundation provides teachers with grants to get their projects off the ground (www.neafoundation.org).

A Strong Professional Network— There's lots of formal assistance from the Association. But don't forget that you're also plugged into a network of people who have been there, done that. They know the kids, the administrators, and the parents, and they can help you do your best and avoid the minefields. You're on their team and they're on yours. If you don't know who the Association members in your building are, call your local Association office and they'll point you in the right direction.

Protection—Experienced advocates called UniServ directors advise or represent members in employment-related matters. If a principal unfairly accuses you of being ineffective, the UniServ director is the one to call on. Plus, if a legal issue arises, you've got at least $1 million in liability insurance as a member of the Association. Now, while you're in your first few years of teaching (usually three) you're on probation and don't have many of the protections you will get later on. But you do have rights, and the Association staff at your local office can tell you about them, while helping you avoid getting into a situation in which you would have to fight for your job.

Wage and Benefits Watchdogs—An experienced Association staff helps the people sitting down at the bargaining table to fight for your pay increases and benefits. They do research and plan public relations campaigns to make the public understand the importance of properly paying educators. There's also training offered to help individual members sharpen their salary and benefits bargaining skills. Plus, there are top-notch lobbyists fighting for Association members' rights in Congress, the state legislature, and the school board.

Fighting for Fair Funding—Those lobbyists working with legislators on better education policy are also making impassioned arguments for improved school funding. They let legislators know about the needs, interests, and priorities of teachers. For example, you're not the only one talking about what's wrong with the so-called No Child Left Behind law. NEA lobbyists are fighting to get the law changed the way you want to see it reformed.

Extra Benefits, Fun Perks—You can get insurance discounts, cheaper movie tickets, and coupons for stores like Target, Ann Taylor, and Best Buy through NEA Member Benefits (www.neamb.com).

Understanding more about what your Association does can't be the end of your involvement though. A strong and healthy union relies on the participation of all of its members, which means becoming more aware of the issues that affect you and your colleagues and taking action.

As a union member, "I'm very involved in how I think the school should look," says Lawrence Garcia, 35, a middle school math teacher in Thornton, Colorado. But he can't do it alone. "If I'm going to make a change here, nobody downtown will listen to me if I'm by myself."

Here's how members like Garcia say they need your help: Consider becoming a building representative, who serves as a liaison between teachers and support professionals and the administration.

"Every organization is dependent on the new members coming in," says Amy Murphy, a 26-year-old teacher in Tampa, Florida. She became a building rep during her second year as a teacher. "I was scared to pieces, but decided I wanted to be involved," says Murphy. "As I'm learning more and more it gets easier."

You can also go to school board meetings and use the public comment portion of the session to talk about issues affecting the classroom or teachers.

Register to vote and exercise that vote for pro-public education candidates. Donate to the NEA Fund for Children and Public Education (see "Anything Else?" page 34) to help elect those candidates. Call, email, or visit with elected officials in your city and state to tell them your priorities.

"Lobbying gave me a chance to actually stand up for what I believe in and affect the course of education in our state," says Jana Thomas, 24, a high school Spanish and English teacher in Republic, Missouri.

Through involvement—taking on issues that affect both the classroom and the contract—a community of educators grows stronger. "In your first year it feels like you're alone on the planet, but this Association gives you a community," Thomas says. "You can talk to and help each other."

Education 2008: Where the Presidential Candidates Stand

There are 76.6 million children under the age of 17 currently enrolled in school in the United States. For those children and their parents, education is a major concern. But the quality of education in the country affects all of us indirectly. An educated populace translates to a more robust workforce, correlates to a slower population growth rate, ensures a more concerned and decent society, and influences the number of participants in the democratic process.

Check out NEA's Side by Side Comparison of the Candidates on Major Issues

In 2008, education reform ranks as the third most important issue for voters, behind only the war in Iraq and the economy. As the leaders of our profession it is vital that we know where the candidates stand on the issues and how that will impact our work, the learning of our students and the health of our schools.

Our family members, community members, parents, congregations, memberships all depend on us to share the facts on this important issue. Please take a look at where the political parties and candidates stand on the most important issue in Election 2008, education. All of the other issues are negatively or positively impacted by our society's ability to educate its young people, workers and citizens.

US Democratic Party Platform 2008 in PDF

US Republican Party Platform 2008 in PDF

2008 Iowa Democratic Party Platform in PDF


Senator Barack Obama (D-IL)

While his Democratic rival, Senator Hillary Clinton, campaigned to end NCLB completely, Senator Barack Obama has promised to reform the act, saying that it has been poorly funded and implemented by the Department of Education. Another major complaint from the Democrats is that NCLB has created false measures of achievement, forcing teachers to direct their lessons not to the educational material but to the standardized tests by which their students will be measured. Obama also plans to restructure the funding formulas so that schools that need improvement receive more money to do so, rather than punishing them by taking away funds.

The cornerstone of Obama’s education platform is a plan entitled “Zero to Five,” which addresses the period from birth to pre-kindergarten. Under this plan, he would create Early Learning Challenge Grants to promote early learning programs at the state level and help the states move toward voluntary, universal pre-school.

He would also quadruple funding for Early Head Start - a federally funded community-based health education program for low-income families with infants and toddlers and pregnant women.

Obama has emphasized the importance of improving teacher preparation and performance. He would create Teacher Service Scholarships to pay for undergraduate or graduate teacher education in exchange for teaching in a high-need field or location for at least four years. He would also require all schools of education to be accredited and would create a voluntary national performance assessment of new educators.

Making post-secondary education more affordable is another pledge Obama has made. He proposes the American Opportunity Tax Credit that would make community college tuition free and cover two-thirds of the cost of tuition at the average public college or university for most students. However, he has not released details on how he intends to fund such an expensive program.

Senator John McCain (R-AZ)

In his 2008 candidacy, Republican Senator John McCain has officially supported standards, such as those required by No Child Left Behind, to measure public schools and use performance against these standards to determine how much funding schools receive. He voted for NCLB in 2001 and continues to support it, but has stated that some changes need to be made to the act, such as allowing parents to choose which school their child will attend through publicly funded vouchers.

Vouchers are the foundation of his education platform and McCain has said that all federal funding must be predicated on parents having the ability to enroll their children in better schools, rather than requiring them to stay in failing schools. His official campaign website says that he “will fight for the ability of all students to have access to all schools of demonstrated excellence, including their own homes.”

Like his opponent, McCain has focused on improving the quality of teachers across the nation, but his focus is on free market competition - schools should compete to be the most innovative and student-centered to attract and reward the best teachers.

McCain has said little about post-secondary education so far in his campaign. During an event in New Hampshire in December, he said he supports tax deductions for college tuitions and that “we’ve got to do everything we can to make education affordable for all Americans.”

Later, he corrected his statement, stating that he misunderstood the question and does not support tax deductions for tuition. He has said he backs greater federal funding of Pell grants and government low-interest student loans, though he missed the vote on a bill that cuts the interest rate on loans and increases Pell grants.

Tell Congress: Extend Educator Tax Deduction and Rural Schools Program

July 24, 2008

The Senate will once again consider a bill to extend certain tax deductions and other critical programs. This bill contains several provisions of great importance to educators, including provisions to extend:

The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act,
The tax deduction for educators' out-of-pocket classroom supply expenses, and
The Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB) school modernization program.
The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination program, which provides guaranteed funding to rural, timber-dependent counties, has expired. Failure to reauthorize and fund it immediately will result in a substantial and devastating funding cut for rural counties across the country. In fact, a number of counties around the country have already begun sending out layoff notices to educators and other public employees.

The educator tax deduction helps recognize the financial sacrifices made by teachers and paraprofessionals. Studies show that educators spend more of their own funds each year to supply their classrooms, including purchasing essential items such as pencils, glue, scissors, and facial tissues. The deduction will expire at the end of this year unless Congress acts.

The QZAB program assists school districts in rural and urban communities by providing a financing mechanism to renovate buildings and invest in equipment and technology.

Contact your Senators Today!

Tell the Senate to pass the tax extender bill before they leave for the August recess.

Tell Congress: Support Permanent Home for Women's History Museum

The National Women's History Museum is a non-partisan, non-profit educational institution dedicated to fostering a greater appreciation of how women have shaped our culture. The Museum has not had a permanent home since its founding in 1996. On July 17th, Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) introduced a bill (H.R. 6548) that will allow the museum to secure a permanent home near the national mall.

Contact your Representatives in Congress.

Tell Congress to support legislation to give the National Women's History Museum a permanent home.

Statements on Social Security Offsets Available on House Committee Website

Statements submitted for the record in conjunction with the January 2008 House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Social Security offsets - including many statements submitted by NEA cyberlobbyists - are now available on the Committee's website.

Due to a technical glitch, some submitted statements were not received by the Committee. If you submitted a statement in January, check the website to make sure your statement is there. If you do not see your statement, you can contact the committee at 202-225-3625 to inquire about resubmitting it. Note, this is only for statements originally submitted within the two week period following the January hearing that were lost due to the Committee's technical problems.

NEA Representative Assembly Delegates Recommend Senator Barack Obama

Obama Addresses Nearly 10,000 Educators at NEA Meeting
Calls for new era in public education

WASHINGTON-Presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama addressed nearly 10,000 educators today as part of the National Education Association's Representative Assembly. Obama called for overhauling No Child Left Behind, providing adequate resources to educators, and encouraging parental and community involvement.

"I want to lead a new era of mutual responsibility in education-one where we all come together-parents and educators, the NEA and leaders in Washington, citizens all across America; united for the sake of our children's success," Obama said. "Bringing about that future begins with fixing the broken promises of No Child Left Behind."

Obama addressed the Assembly on Saturday via satellite, after delegates had voted Friday to officially endorse him for president.

"We must fix the failures of NCLB," Obama said. "We must provide the funding that was promised, give our states the resources they need, and finally meet our commitment to special education. But that alone is not an education policy. It's just a starting point."



Earlier this week, Obama sent a letter to NEA members in support of the Association's new plan to transform all public schools by the year 2020 through redefining the federal role in education.

"I applaud the NEA for its efforts to frame the agenda outlined in Great Public Schools for Every Student by 2020," Obama said in the letter. "This document provides a roadmap for educators, elected officials, policymakers, and all who care deeply about the future of our children to consider and debate in the days ahead. And it provides critical starting points for a new educational compact."

NEA has launched a $50 million campaign to elect pro-public education candidates in the November election. The Association's over 3.2 million members live in every state, in every congressional district, and in every precinct.

"Barack Obama has stood with educators throughout his career in public service. He understands the importance of educators to the future of our great country," Weaver said. "It's time for change. We need a pro-public education president who will treat children as more than test scores and who will ensure every child attends a quality public school."