Navigation

WEA Home Page
Governance
Resources
Current Events
Posting Information
Links

New Member Tips from MEA

 

MEA New Member Tips

Michigan Education Association New Member Tips

For K-12 Members — April 14, 2008

HOORAY? We're Going on a Field Trip?

A class field trip can either be a wonderful opportunity for your students to broaden their horizons or your worst nightmare. Here are some tips for making sure a field trip is a great experience for everyone.

Getting Involved in Your Local Association

Your local association needs your expertise and insight when it comes to new member issues and problems. And with the retirement of so many experienced, long-time leaders, it's important that associations look to qualified replacements to take the helm. These are some of the ways that you can become involved in your local association.

Additional Resources

  • The Fulbright Hays Seminars Abroad gives educators a chance to experience the culture of a foreign country. While you're not expected to teach or lecture, the government pays for 90 percent of all expenses. Applications will be available in May. Contact Gale Holdren at gale.holdren@ed.gov if you're interested.
  • Go to www.mea.org to read President Salters' Detroit News column on dropouts. MEA will soon be launching an in-depth study of the problem.
  • Also at www.mea.org, you can read the Great Lakes Center review of a Lexington Institute report that critiques federal pre-K proposals. The reviewer calls the report incomplete, misleading, biased and inaccurate.
  • Teacher Day/School Family Day is May 6. Go to MEA Merchandise to see what products are available to honor school employees.

Michigan Education Association New Member Tips

For K-12 Members — March 14, 2008

Build a Tip Sheet

By now, you're probably making your own list of survival tips to make your job easier. Hopefully, your mentor has helped by sharing with you his/her own secrets. Here are a few more tips to consider.

"Let's Welcome Our Guest Speaker for Today!"

Having guest speakers in your classroom can be as valuable as a field trip. Identifying someone as a potential guest speaker takes prior planning. Evaluate your choice of a guest speaker based on these questions.

Additional Resources

  • Teacher Day/School Family Day is May 6. Go to www.mea.org to order materials to help you and colleagues celebrate and recognize the work you do for public education.
  • MEA can help you continue this month's celebration of reading with information and resources. "Read On" will give you ideas to spark a child's interest in reading.
  • Be sure to read the article on service credit purchase. New penalties on the purchase of service credit to make early retirement possible will go into effect on June 30. To avoid the Legislature-imposed penalties, you'll have to begin filling out the appropriate paperwork now.
  • Two Indiana middle school science teachers had new and inexperienced teachers in mind when they wrote their book, "Help! I'm Teaching Middle School Science." Authors Jill Swango and Sally Boles provide practical advice on setting up a science lab, classroom management and using the computer. The book can be purchased at www.amazon.com for $36.58.

Michigan Education Association New Member Tips

For K-12 Members — January 25, 2008

Feeling Down? It Might Not Be the Winter Blahs

Everyone experiences sadness and down times periodically, especially when they're cooped up inside a school building all day during one of Michigan's long and exceedingly gray winters. Read more.

Take Advantage of an Educator Deduction

If last year you used your own money to purchase school supplies, you're eligible for an educator deduction of $250. Gather your receipts and read how to save on your taxes.

Buying Years

You may believe that it’s too early to start thinking about retirement, but it isn’t. You’ve probably heard from veteran colleagues about “buying years� to increase your pension and perhaps allow you to retire early. Find out about how you can participate in this program.

Additional Resources

If you know other new members who are not receiving the New Member Tips, encourage them to sign up at www.mea.org/newmembers.

If you want to change the e-mail address where you receive the New Member Tips, please reply to this message and tell us your name, your old e-mail address and your new e-mail address.

If you want to unsubscribe from the New Member Tips, send a blank e-mail to leave-mea-nmtips-k12@list.nea.org.

MEA New Member Tips

Michigan Education Association New Member Tips

For K-12 Members — January 7, 2008

Why Do I Need My Association Membership?

A lot of money comes out of your check each month as dues to pay for your membership in the NEA, MEA and your local association. So you may be asking, "Why do I need my association membership?" Read on for the answer.

Have You Checked Your Certification lately?

Rules governing teacher certification seem to change regularly. Today, new highly qualified requirement standards are in effect for secondary special education teachers. It's your responsibility to make sure your teaching certificate is valid. Don't leave this important concern up to the district. Read more.

Additional Resources

  • The value of association membership is highlighted in Guilty Until Proven Innocent: Teachers and Accusations of Abuse. The book is based on 13 real cases of teachers who have been falsely accused of abuse against their students. Greg Lawler, a staff attorney for the Colorado Education Association who defended the teachers, is the author. The book is available at www.amazon.com for $15.95.
  • Too Dangerous to Teach tells the true story of the author, Isobel Kleinman, who's labeled too dangerous to teach because she dared to challenge the education establishment of her school system. With the help of her association, she stands up to career-ending challenges. The book is available at www.amazon.com for $7.99.
  • MEA's premiere conference, the Bargaining/PA/PR Conference, is February 7-9, 2008, at Cobo Center in Detroit. Download a registration form.
  • In partnership with Apple, American Public Media has created an archive of radio programs available on iTunes U platform. With free access, you can download programs and transcripts of radio programs dealing with politics, history, business or sociology. Go to http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/tools/itunes for more information.

If you know other new members who are not receiving the New Member Tips, encourage them to sign up at www.mea.org/newmembers.

If you want to change the e-mail address where you receive the New Member Tips, please reply to this message and tell us your name, your old e-mail address and your new e-mail address.

If you want to unsubscribe from the New Member Tips, send a blank e-mail to leave-mea-nmtips-k12@list.nea.org.

MEA New Member Tips

Michigan Education Association New Member Tips

For K-12 Members — November 9, 2007

Sub Insurance: Preparing Everyone for Your Absence

Preparing for a sub means more than just dusting off your Substitute Folder. You also need to prepare your students for your potential absence. Get advice from your mentor and colleagues about these issues,

Achhhooooooo! Not Another Cold! Tips on Avoiding Colds and Flu

Probably no one prepared you for the first-year teacher phenomenon of catching every communicable disease possible. Don't delay—read these tips from MESSA on minimizing your exposure to germs and staying healthy.

When All Else Fails — Try This!

There's nothing like advice from a veteran teacher who's been through what you're going through now. Consider these tips on making your classroom a positive learning place.

Additional Resources

  • MEA will hold its Fall Representative Assembly tomorrow, Nov. 10. Be sure to go to www.mea.org next week to find a recap of the business the delegates conducted.
  • Help for new English teachers from a fellow English teacher comes to you in the form of the book "The First Year English Teachers' Guide to Beartraps" by Jon Potter. The book is written for high school teachers and can be ordered at www.amazon.com for $21.99.
  • Two Indiana middle school science teachers had new and inexperienced teachers in mind when they wrote their book "Help! I'm Teaching Middle School Science". In the 14 chapters of the book by Jill Swango and Sally Boles, you'll find practical advice on how to manage a middle school science program. The book is available at www.amazon.com for $34.75.
  • A year's worth of lesson plans, ideas and tips can be found at www.teachnet.com. The online lesson plans cover all subject areas and even include tips for parents. In the Tools section, you can get ideas for bulletin boards and public relations. There is also a chat room where you can share ideas with teachers across the country.

Michigan Education Association New Member Tips

For K-12 Members — August 24, 2007

Welcome to the New Member Tips

This is the start of another year of tips to support you as a new member. The tips will be delivered straight to your e-mail inbox every other week, starting today.

We look forward to another year of providing you with the tips and tools to help you thrive in your first few years on the job. If you have any questions, comments, thoughts or suggestions for the New Member Tips, please e-mail us at webmaster@mea.org.

If you know other new MEA members who are not subscribed to the New Member Tips, please forward this message to them and encourage them to sign up at www.mea.org/newmembers.

Getting Ready for That First Day on the Job

The good news is you've gotten your first teaching job. The bad news is you've gotten your first teaching job and all the preparation and information overload that goes with it. Here are some suggestions on activities you can complete before your students walk into your classroom.

It's Your First Day of Classes

You've spent the last few weeks getting your classroom set up; you've mapped out key spots like the parking lot and the restrooms; you've purchased and organized classroom materials and you've planned enough lessons to last well beyond the first day. And now it's your first day as a teacher! Consider incorporating some of these activities into your first day's lesson plan.

I Don't Know What I Need to Know

Sometimes association leaders forget to tell new members basic information. But if you already know where to park and what building you're assigned to, then here are a few more things to be sure you know as you start your new job.

Additional Resources

  • The National Education Association (NEA) has available teacher-created, web-based classroom tools. The NEA Teacher Toolkit can help you manage attendance, grades, lesson plans and tests. The basic tools are available at www.nea.org/marketplace at no cost.
  • Works4Me is a collection of ideas and tips by teachers, for teachers that NEA has compiled. At www.nea.org/works4me, you’ll find great suggestions by other teachers on classroom management to creating exciting bulletin boards. You’ll also be able to submit your own tips.

If you know other new members who are not receiving the New Member Tips, encourage them to sign up at www.mea.org/newmembers.

 

Last Updated: April 16, 2008 7:56 PM