From the Offices of the

CTA Magazine

I am already be looking ahead to Fall issues of the California Educator and will have to interview members and visit schools in the near future, before schools close for the summer. So I am looking for any CTA members who might be willing to discuss some challenges that, unfortunately, may lie ahead. As usual, I am looking for a variety of teachers and classified employees representing different grade levels, geographic areas, ages and ethnic backgrounds. If you know any CTA members in good standing or experts willing to discuss the following topics, please let me know ASAP: § Doing more in your classroom with less… Any members, who can advise how to find free or inexpensive resources, donations, etc., stretch your supplies?

• Teaching bigger classes. Do’s and Don’ts. Can those currently teaching big classes offer any advice to those whose class sizes are about to increase?
• Teaching a split-grade combination class. There will likely be a lot more of these with RIFs and they are challenging to teach. Are there any teachers already teaching combos who can offer some tips on making it run smoothly?
• How to jump right into teaching a different grade. With layoffs and bumping rights, lots of teachers are going to be reassigned to teach different grade levels than they taught last year. How do you prepare in just a short time?
• When a school closes – How can you help students or employees who are reassigned to different schools after their school closes – so they feel at home?
• Coping with loss – How can school employees – including classified members – pick up the pieces when many of their beloved colleagues don’t return in the fall? It may be similar to a death in the family when school opens. Have any members or schools coped with this in the past? Any advice?

Thanks so much in advance for your help, as usual!!

Sherry Posnick-Goodwin
Communications Department
California Teachers Association
650-552-5347