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Dear New Teachers,
Welcome to the second edition of First Class. The topics in this edition include:
- Department of Library Services
- Special Education
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Human Resources (W2 & Health Benefits)
- Self Care
- Classroom Content
- DOE Acronyms
- A+ Course Credits
- Professional Development
- Employee incentives and Discounts
As a reminder, the New Teacher Tool Kit has helpful information and resources for you to reference as a new teacher for the NYC Department of Education. Thank you for your dedication to teach and support NYC DOE public school students.
We wish you a happy and healthy holiday season!
The New Teacher Support Team
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Department of Library Services
Even if you are not working as a librarian for the NYC DOE, the Department of Library Services can help support you and your students. In addition to having a collection of books that support your curricula, librarians also teach information literacy. If you need training on how to use the databases listed below, speak with your school librarian. Their sole purpose is to support the school’s curricula and to be your partners in delivering an education to your students.
For questions please contact Patricia Sarles at psarles@schools.nyc.gov.
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As a new teacher, one of the newest initiatives in special education is the Special Education Recovery Services (SERS) program, which falls under the umbrella of the Academic Recovery Plan. The Academic Recovery Plan outlines the Academic Priorities for 2021-2022 school year, driven by the need to welcome every student, staff member, and family back in this year of homecoming. We can transform the student experience by ensuring our school environments are welcoming and affirming, anchored in setting high expectations and rigorous instruction to accelerate learning for every student beyond the pandemic. Teachers can review the Special Education Recovery Services Guidance and reach out to their principals around more specific details for recovery in your school building.
New teachers are encouraged to visit Special Education in NYC for information on best practices, guidance for Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings, and other ways to support and engage students. Teachers should be integrating different methods and best practices as well as progress monitoring students' IEP goals so that skill achievement can be tracked, and progress shared with families and stakeholders.
New teachers may also be engaged in the Special Education Recovery Services and should review the Academic Recovery - Special Education Guidance for more information about serving students and providing them with interventions and support they need to be successful. As Special Education Recovery Services are being provided, teachers should continue to collaboratively monitor whether students’ needs have changed and/or whether the services are not resulting in sufficient expected progress. In either of these cases, schools should identify these students and determine whether an IEP meeting or reevaluation may be needed.
The Beyond Access Series continues to provide free webinars for families of children with disabilities on topics related to special education. Past sessions have covered Special Education Recovery Services, Social Emotional Learning, Supporting Literacy, Assistive technologies and much more. Upcoming sessions include Reading and Writing Strategies, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Social Emotional Learning, Interventions and Transitions. These sessions are live every Tuesday at 7:30 PM and are recorded so that they can be accessed at any time on our Beyond Access YouTube Channel. Please share this information with families that might be interested. To learn more about the series or be added to the mailing list, please email beyondaccess@schools.nyc.gov.
New teachers can also access many helpful special education resources and a variety of Central Professional Learning (PL) opportunities on the Special Education Office Professional Development Calendar. Learn more about IEPs, Special Education Student Information System (SESIS), specially designed instruction, literacy interventions, and positive behavior supports by clicking here to access the Special Education Office Learning Stream or email specialeducationpd@schools.nyc.gov.
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W2 and 1095-C Distribution
W-2s and 1095-C Forms will be available in January. If you wish to receive electronic delivery of your forms, you should request this via NYCAPS ESS by noon on 1/7/22. If you do not request this, you will still be able to access a digital copy of your forms in NYCAPS ESS, but will also receive a copy mailed to your address on file in NYCAPS ESS.
Now is a good time to ensure you know your login information to NYCAPS ESS and that your address on file is correct. As a reminder, your User ID is your 7-digit Employee ID number.
Once you are logged in, you may access the following links:
Enrolling in Health Benefits
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Click here for a visual guide on how to sign up for your health benefits.
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Read this article to understand the vast majority of what you will need to know about your health benefits, including enrolling, qualifying events, adding dependents, etc.
- Review the links below by the NYC Office of Labor Relations, which administers health benefits for NYC employees. You will find information on some of the most common questions, such as the following: “How much does health benefits coverage cost? And “what’s included in each plan?”
- HBP Summary Plan Description
- Health Plan Rate Chart for Employees
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One of the simplest ways to incorporate self-care into an overflowing schedule is by practicing conscious breathing exercises. This is a practice you might consider incorporating into a meeting with your mentor. You can begin your mentor/mentee interaction by setting an intention for the session followed by a few deep breaths for centering. This will increase engagement and connectedness. By inhaling slower and exhaling longer, you will improve oxygen flow to the brain and entire body, relax your central nervous system and increase your energy level.
The following are some strategies to help you care for yourself more effectively:
Start your day on a positive note—do something, read something or listen to something that lifts you up and makes you feel good. This can help set the tone for how you manage your entire day.
Take brain breaks—you will be amazed by what a quick break will do. Whether it’s spent gazing out a window, meditating, grabbing a quick snack, intentional breathing, stretching or exercising you will be rejuvenated so the work you do is more efficient. Set a goal to schedule brain breaks throughout the day. Rest is a catalyst for productivity, not a break from it!
Ask for help when you need it. Allow others the gift of helping you!
Self-care is neither wasteful nor selfish. Taking care of yourself means that you have more to give to your students. Staying up late writing that perfect lesson will not help you feel energetic and present the next day in the classroom. Kids benefit from healthy, happy, balanced teachers. Here’s some wonderful Advice to New Teachers From a 20-year Veteran teacher. You can find additional tools online, such as resources in mindfulteachers.org and CultofPedagogy.com
Give yourself the gift of self-care this holiday season.
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Classroom Content
Check out WeTeachNYC! It’s the NYCDOE’s website for educators to find curricular and instructional resources. Popular search terms include:
- Black history curriculum
- Civic education
- Instructional leadership
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DOE Acronyms
As you acclimate to the DOE, feel free to reference this document to assist you in the meaning of all of the acronyms you may have heard. Please note that this list is not all inclusive but to support teacher learning.
Do you have an acronym that isn't listed that you would like to share? Let us know!
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A+ Course Credits
For information about A+ course credits please visit the HR Connect Employee Web Portal and search: “MA+30 Differential and A+ Courses” for more information.
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Professional Development Opportunities
I Teach NYC provides the latest career development and professional learning opportunities for educators in New York City. Subscribe to I Teach NYC notifications by entering your email address in the right-hand side bar of the I TeachNYC home page.
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Employee Incentives & Discounts
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