Useful Links
Retirement Related Websites
The following web sites provide information and resources for teachers who have retired or are planning to retire.
AFT web site provides a wide range of information important to both current and future retirees. These issues include the preservation of Social Security and Medicare; and information to teach members how to best maintain strong ties to their union once they retire. The site also has links to many other sites of interest to retirees.
Massachusetts Teachers' Retirement Board web site provides information about and access to the services of the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System.
Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission (PERAC) contains information for public employees other than teachers.
Massachusetts Retirees United (MRU) Retired educators of AFT Massachusetts have established a chapter to organize to protect retiree rights and benefits and to lobby to increase retiree benefits.
Teacher Resources
The sites listed below may be of particular interest to classroom teachers. This list is not meant to be complete or to represent endorsement by AFT Massachusetts. If you know of additional sites that other teachers might find useful, please send them to me by mail (38 Chauncy Street, Boston, MA 02111), or email (pveysey@mfteducator.org).
AFT "Colorin Colorado" webcast up and running
The AFT has a webcast of a professional development resource series: Assessment of English language learners called "Colorin Colorado". You can access this program at anytime. It features a 45 minute video stream with a top researcher/expert and moderator, clips of live classroom instruction, Power Point presentation slides that are synched to the video, a transcript, recommended reading and discussion questions.
For more information on Colorin Colorado, go to: http://www.aft.org/teachers/colorado.htm
Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation's "Livin' Fit" Program
The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation will link students from three high schools in Massachusetts together for a live video conference to talk about healthy living. Students will engage in an open conversation about eating right, exercise and making healthy choices. The program will include short presentations by local exercise and nutrition experts and local media personalities.
Livin' Fit is a free program that can be viewed live over the Internet at www.livinfit.com. The web site is currently in its final stages and will be live by the end of the week. Teachers can register their students by visiting www.livinfit.com or by calling 1-866-44-BEFIT.
Gateway to Educational Materials (GEM)
This is a tool that helps teachers pinpoint — from thousands of learning resources on the Internet — the one that is right for their students. Teachers can type a topic, grade level, & other information into GEM, which then retrieves lessons, instructional units, & other free educational materials from more than 140 websites & organizations. Teachers may also browse materials by subject area & keyword. More than 7,000 items are currently included in GEM, with new GEM consortium members joining & hundreds of items being added each month. www.thegateway.org
The Federal Resources for Educational Excellence (FREE)
Web site makes teaching and learning resources from across the federal government available in one place. FREE focuses only on resources created with federal support. www.ed.gov/free (GEM includes mostly materials not created with federal support.)
Math & Science Challenge Online for 8th Graders
8th graders can now compare their performance in math & science to that of their peers worldwide, using an interactive web site that presents a version of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Developed by the Council on Competitiveness, the Internet Learning Network web site is in its "beta" phase. Feedback for improving the site & guiding its development is requested (using forms at the site). www.getsmarter.org
Other Teacher Resource Links
Massachusetts Department of Education
www.doe.mass.eduRecertification Regulations
www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/603cmr44.htmlRecertification guidelines (html)
www.doe.mass.edu/recert/2000guidelinesRecertification Questions and Answers (html)
www.doe.mass.edu/recert/qa.htmlMassachusetts Curriculum Frameworks
www.doe.mass.edu/frameworksTeaching Reading IS Rocket Science: What Expert Teachers of Reading Should Know and Be Able To Do
http://aft.org/edissues/rocketscience.htm
Links to Member Organizations
American Federation of Teachers
Amesbury Federation of Teachers, Local 1033
Berklee Chapter AFT, Local 4412, (Berkee College of Music Faculty Federation)
Billerica Federation of Teachers, Local 1677
Boston Teachers Union, Local 66
Lawrence Teachers Union, Local 1019
Lynn Teachers Union, Local 1037