NEA Today, August 2023

Magazine

Welcome to NEA Today’s new digital experience! In this back-to-school issue, you’ll find helpful tips for starting the school year right—and a video classroom tour with Delaware teacher Alison Tingle. Spoiler alert: She has superpowered organizational skills! Plus, learn how to accelerate student learning, mentor a colleague, and meet support staff leaders who are creating meaningful change. Bonus feature: If you see an article you like, you can now share it on social media with just a click!

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Result List

paraeducator Yahaira Rodriguez sits on a desk and listens to a student speaking up in the classroom

Cover Story

Seven Ways to Make This a Great School Year!

by: Mary Ellen Flannery August 1, 2023

Summer’s over! But things are about to heat up in classrooms and other workspaces. Here are seven things you can do now to smooth the way for a positive and powerful school year to come.

Jody Murphy sits at a lab table in her chemistry classroom and talks to a student standing beside her

Feature Article

These Educators are Boosting Engagement to Boost Achievement

by: Cindy Long August 7, 2023

Rethinking student and family engagement is the first step in closing post-pandemic learning gaps.

Feature Article

Helping Newcomer Students Ease Trauma and Stress

by: Cindy Long February 13, 2023

Forging partnerships in the community, a Los Angeles school offers students more than academic support.

Feature Article

Joe Biden: A President Who Hears Our Voices

by: Abreanna Blose and Amanda Litvinov July 13, 2023

'This is the most pro-public education and pro-union administration in modern history.’ - NEA President Becky Pringle

Feature Article

Why Mentoring Matters

by: Mary Ellen Flannery July 20, 2023

A good mentor can keep a new colleague in the profession.

Feature Article

Meet 2023 National Teacher of the Year Rebecka Peterson

by: Mary Ellen Flannery April 19, 2023

Peterson, a high school math teacher in Oklahoma, has been selected as the 2023 National Teacher of the Year. Her focus? Student relationships and finding the good in every day.

Nine educators stand outside the NEA headquarters building in Washington, DC talking

Feature Article

Educators are Stronger Together

by: Amanda Litvinov August 8, 2023

Every NEA member can help grow the union. Here's how and why it's so important.

Educators hold Freedom to Teach signs at rally in Orlando

Feature Article

Educators embrace their role as advocates for students, defenders of freedom

by: Amanda Litvinov July 5, 2023

Delegates rallied for the Freedom to Learn, applauded a passionate Teacher of the Year, and learned more about community schools on day three of the RA.

Special Sections

Education Support Professionals
What does an ESP leader look like?
In the Know
Explore education news and trends
Issues and Action
How states are spending school rescue funds—and what should happen next.
Our Voices
Union educators support a photo exhibit by students from historically marginalized groups.
Try This: Technology
Better communication with families starts with the basics
Try This: Engage
Using board games in your lessons boosts creativity, teaches cooperation, and supports curriculum.

Departments

Becky's Journal
NEA in Action
Eight Ways to Make Back-to-School Night Better
Resources
Nominate someone you admire for the 2024 NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards; plus grants and online extras.

Quote byTameka Mays , paraprofessional

“Find a mentor who can help you avoid pitfalls, encourage you when you are struggling, and tell you when you need to do better.”

—Tameka Mays , paraprofessional

Hear more from Tameka and other ESP leaders

Editor's Note: Tools to supercharge your school year

Welcome back, educators! A new school year is off and running, with all of the excitement, optimism, and uncertainty that comes with it. Hopefully, this summer provided some time for relaxation and reflection, and you are feeling excited about new classes and new ideas for the upcoming school year.

In this issue, we give back-to-school a boost in “7 Ways to Make This a Great School Year!,” where fellow educators offer creative tips for organizing your classroom, building relationships, staying energized throughout the year, and more.

If you're reading this, you know that NEA Today has also launched an exciting new digital experience to help you save time this school year. Now NEA Today is at your fingertips whenever you need it. In a quiet moment in the break room or as your work day winds down, you can pull out your mobile device and get NEA Today magazine and news online, enriched with exclusive digital content. You’ll continue to receive your quarterly print magazine, but you’ll also get online extras. For example, in this issue:

Take a video classroom tour with Delaware teacher Alison Tingle, who has superpowered organizational skills! She has more ideas for setting up a classroom than we could even fit into the print magazine. In the future, you’ll see more video, hear educator voices, and engage with interactive features.

Share far and wide. If an article inspires you or can help a colleague with a problem, you can share it right now with a click. When you want to send an article to administrators or the school board, you can share it with colleagues to rally support or send it straight to the source.

Know you are not alone. Being an educator can be incredibly fulfilling and also frustrating. NEA Today can deliver help straight to your inbox. Sign up at nea.org/signup and check out the new digital NEA Today.

Anitrá Speight, Associate Publisher and Director