Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1158290
A F E W S O C C E R C A M P S , a bunch of rushed vacation days, relatively blissful mornings that didn't involve rising early to make lunches and drive kids to school — and where did the summer go? Suddenly, it's back to school time. I'm not the only one whose summer seemed short. I know many educators used their precious break for professional devel- opment at CTA conferences and trainings. A couple of the California Teachers of the Year went abroad to meet and observe their counterparts. Ashley Wallace, an Oakland Education Association member, spent the time giving her classroom an "extreme makeover" (page 34). To honor educators' year-round energ y and dedication and the shiny and new school year, we present our Back to School Issue, which touches on topics relevant to the new year. Among them: advances in educational technolog y that let students create, share and engage without boundaries (page 20); how to set up a simple, ef fective classroom management plan (page 31); tips to organize your classroom to optimize student learning (page 35); strategies high school teachers use to create potent learning experiences (page 52); why mi x ing ima ges and lang ua ge in "one-pa gers" is so powerf u l (pa ge 5 4). We hope you f ind the content useful. Much as student generations differ over the years, so do educator cohorts. "Meet Gen Z: e future of the teaching profession" (page 36) introduces our youngest and newest educators. While they can relate to their students, who are likewise Generation Z (born between 1995 and 2012) and are tech-savvy and advocate for social change, they can also be stressed and anxious about the future. It's a fascinating read. Stress is not confined to the young, of course. Educators in particular need to keep mind and body in top shape all year. "Not having a plan for maintaining your health while pouring passion into your profession will leave you fried by spring," says Mike Anderson, author of The Well-Balanced Teacher. Learn seven habits to keep healthy on page 57. Take care of yourself. And welcome back. Katharine Fong E D I T O R I N C H I E F editor@cta.org " M A N Y O F M Y students have witnessed shootings of loved ones, experienced neglect, abuse and homelessness, and faced deportation," says third-grade teacher and United Educators of San Francisco member Anita Parameswaran. UESF nurse Susan Kitchell adds to the list: "Students I have worked with have experi- enced uprooting from their countries of origin due to war, domestic violence, sex- ual assault and rape, being rejected by adults for their sexual orientation and iden- tity, incarcerated parents…" Sadly, the number of stu- dents subjected to traumatic events expands every day, and educators must deal with classroom behavior that reflects the fear and anger of these children and youths. Our report "Teaching Through Trauma" (page 42) is the first in a series of stories that examine how educators are using trauma-informed practices to help students feel safe in their classrooms and schools and keep the focus on learning and growing. Edu- cators who have been trained in the practices say they have seen positive results. We invite your feedback on this issue as we continue the series throughout the year. Shiny and New 7 A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R 2 019 E D I T O R ' S N O T E