Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/686175
Save for the Future With New CTA Plan With the new, exclusively endorsed CTA Retirement Savings Plan, you're in control. You decide how much to contribute. You can pick a no-fuss fund with a target date closest to your retirement, or be a hands-on investor. You get high-quality investment options recommended and monitored by a national independent investment con- sulting firm, and low fees. Plus, you save on taxes. Check if your district offers the plan. To find out, and to enroll, contact CTA Member Benefits at 650-552-5200 or see CTAMemberBenefits.org/rsp. Get Real School's out, and you're tempted to loll in bed and catch up on Empire and Outlander or master Hungry Shark. Fight it! Let screens go dark and use your precious downtime to reconnect with family and friends in meaningful, face-to-face ways. NEA staffer and blogger Bethe Almeras offers a week's worth of ideas for screen-free fun: 1. Have a cookout or indoor picnic. 2. Have a game night with cards and board games. 3. Go for a long walk aer dinner, and chat with neighbors you haven't seen all winter. 4. Go to the library and pick out a book — maybe one you can read together as a family. 5. Visit a local nature center for programs on stargazing, night hikes and nocturnal wildlife. 6. Take a day trip — hike, bike, or visit a nearby museum. 7. Start a backyard garden or container garden, or spend time in one you already have. Teacher Discounts Take advantage of great deals from major retailers and service providers. NEA Member Benefits' "Big List of Educator Discounts" at neamb.org will get you started. A few highlights: • Adobe: Soware discounts, including 60 percent off Creative Cloud. • Aerosoles, Banana Republic, J.Crew, Ann Taylor Lo, The Limited, and more: 15 percent off (minimum purchase $39.99 at Aerosoles). • The Apple Store: Education pricing available on Macs, iPads, accessories, apps, iBooks and iTunesU courses. • Barnes & Noble: 20 percent off publisher's list price on select purchases including most hardcover and paperback books; up to 25 percent off during Educator Appreciation Days. • Educational Impact: 20 percent off online professional development with self-paced courses that utilize streaming videos. • Jo-Ann Fabric and Cra Stores, Michael's: 15 percent off on purchases. • NEA Member Benefits Apparel Store: Exclusive pricing on items from Macy's, L.L.Bean, Under Armour, and more. • OpenEd: Free resources aligned to Common Core including K-12 assessments, homework assignments, videos, games and lesson plans. • PBS Learning Media: Access to classroom-ready, curriculum-targeted, digital resources and lesson plans. 15 May / June 2016 YOUR WHOLE LIFE Tips and trends for a smarter, healthier you