It's no secret that teachers play an essential role in shaping students' lives. That's why districts in almost every state are sounding the alarm on teacher shortages, as pre-pandemic attrition has escalated to a staffing crisis in schools. Nationwide, around about a quarter-million teachers (233,000 teachers) left the profession between 2019 and 2021, representing a 7% slash to the teaching force, according to a June 2022 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.

Technology has become an integral part of education, transforming traditional classrooms into dynamic learning environments. Its benefits are undeniable for both students and teachers. For students, technology can make learning more interactive and fun, which can help students stay focused and interested in the material. It can also help students learn how to work together effectively and complete collaborative projects more efficiently. For teachers, technology makes it easier to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students, including students with learning disabilities who require accommodation.

The latest cohort of Rutgers Alternate Route program completers enrolled in the second-year Supervised Provisional Teaching II course are receiving their micro-credential for Reflective Teaching after a full year of examining their professional practice for the purpose of improving their instructional performance.

Each spring Rutgers Alternate Route hosts an insightful Twitter chat addressing growth mindsets and nurturing habits of mind that foster continuous improvement and growth for K-12 students. The online event, open to all program teacher candidates and guest educators, takes place on social media to enable site-wide synchronous communication and interaction with colleagues not affiliated with the program.

One of the best parts about summer is spending as much time as possible outdoors—the perfect antidote to the cold months spent inside.

Luckily, it’s easy to get outdoors in New Jersey.

Our state is full of beautiful natural resources, from miles of the Atlantic Ocean’s coastline to the roaring Paterson Falls and so much more. In addition to experiencing New Jersey’s natural landscape, there are many opportunities to learn more about the state’s past and appreciate its place in American history.

In honor of Great Outdoors Month, we’ve compiled the best free and low-cost activities to do outdoors this summer.