American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, AFL-CIO

Gov. Phil Murphy on July 23 signed into law S854/S237-A3394, also known as Laura Wooten’s Law, which will require civics education be taught in New Jersey’s middle schools.

The law carries the name of the late Laura Wooten, who is believed to be the longest continuously serving poll worker in American history.

“Currently, New Jersey is one of a minority of states which does not require our middle school students to study civics, leaving a gap between elementary school and high school, which we must fill,” Murphy said in his opening remarks.…

As a way to “find innovative ways to streamline literacy instruction while offering students opportunities to follow individualized learning paths,” longtime teachers Maria Walther and Karen Biggs-Turner say they have turned to integrated literacy workshops.

In an article posted by MiddleWeb, Walther and Biggs-Turner write about what they describe as “actionable ideas to start your journey by celebrating individuality, encouraging creativity and sparking curiosity.”…

Being a teacher involves spending most days “under artificial lights in classrooms and offices, our faces illuminated by screens,” writes Ryan Tahmaseb, director of library services at the Meadowbrook School in Weston, Massachusetts.

“We don’t go outside unless we need to supervise an outdoor activity or move from one building to another,” he adds. “So many Americans are overworked, stressed and anxious.…