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What to Pack and Plan for this Summer
Technology We'll Have for You
Packing List
Technology You Should Bring

Teach For America’s Supply and Resource Limitations

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We strive to provide you with as many tools and resources as possible to prepare for teaching in your summer and regional placement. However, as a nonprofit organization, our resources are limited. We will provide you with basic supplies while at Summer Training such as markers, pens, paper, and tape. Some corps members find that they want to use more than their allotment of supplies. Summer Training staff will work to provide you with information about local teacher and office supply stores.

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Also, because of the large number of corps members attempting to use common resources such as copy machines, we cannot guarantee unlimited availability of such equipment. You may need to find an alternative way to produce the materials needed or purchase additional prints/copies.

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Throughout the summer, it will be important for corps members to remain flexible and understanding in regards to resource availability. Unfortunately, most schools in our region frequently experience a serious shortage of basic supplies like paper, crayons, markers, glue, etc. with limited to no access to more advanced resources like curricula, books, technology, etc. This is a reality all teachers must face on a daily basis, so we ask for corps member understanding as we do our best to ensure resources are available. It is our intention to provide a realistic and balanced environment for corps members over the summer to best prepare them for their long-term work in their placement schools.

Internet Access 

Internet will be available free-of-charge at UIC. Each dorm room is Ethernet equipped (you must physically plug-in an Ethernet cord in order to receive internet) while all common spaces are equipped with wireless. Corps members are strongly encouraged to bring Ethernet cables in order to access internet in their personal rooms. Additionally, corps members may bring their own personal wireless routers for use in their rooms.

 

We will also strive to provide you with wireless internet access at your school sites so you can more effectively access training materials and track student data. This is a new initiative, so we are still working out some kinks (ex. getting internet access in brick buildings with no cell service, providing wireless internet in schools that have never had it before). We appreciate your flexibility as there is definitely the potential that schools will not have wireless and/or brief stoppages in wireless access could occur.

 

Computer Access 

We will not have access to computers at UIC this summer. Therefore, it is highly recommended each corps member bring their own personal computer. 

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Printer/Copier Service 

Each corps member will have access to a printer and copier at their school site. Corps members will be given a pre-determined number of prints/copies for the entire summer in order to cut down on waste and respect the workload of each device. We recognize that there are almost never enough copies for all of the materials corps members will want to create. We hope that this service will provide you with a starting point for the summer and we encourage you to work with your team members and coaches to brainstorm other ways to present information. 

 

As you will quickly learn, a school’s copier is a highly valued and necessary resource that is placed under an extremely high level of stress during the year. Regardless of age and/or quality, copiers can experience frequent jamming and malfunction when placed in high-stress environments, like schools. To avoid undue stress, plan ahead as much as possible and remain flexible!

Personal Email Account 

Before you arrive at Summer Training, you should set up a non-university, web-based email account (ex. Gmail account) that you can access from any computer. Email will be an important form of communication for you during your stay at Summer Training, and you'll be asked to email lesson plans and other documents to your team and coach throughout the summer. 

 

Personal Computer 

While we work hard to provide you with the resources you need during the summer, we strongly recommend that you bring your own laptop. Former corps members have said that bringing a laptop was critical and allowed them to be much more flexible and efficient and engage in all training opportunities. 

 

How you’ll use your laptop at Summer Training: 

  • To access tools and templates used in training and professional development sessions 

  • To draft, revise, and submit lesson plans 

  • To research upcoming lessons and teaching best practices 

  • To create presentations for your classroom 

  • To track your students’ academic progress through web-based tools 

  • To communicate with other corps members, Summer Training staff, and your placement school 

 

Recommended Hardware Specifications

  • PC Laptop - Macs will work, but some of our tools may not be fully functional (see below in the Word Processor and Spreadsheets sections for more information). If you currently own a Mac, you do NOT need to replace it with a PC. However, it may be helpful to purchase a generic adapter that will allow Macs to connect to VGA ports. 

  • Ethernet Cord/Wireless Card - wireless internet connections are available in limited spaces at our residential site.  Ethernet is available in all personal rooms at our residential site. 

  • Printer - optional, but strongly recommended. 

  • Updated anti-virus software - several free anti-virus programs are available online. Past participants have recommended AVG or Avast

  • Web browser - we strongly recommend using Chrome, Firefox, or Safari since our tools have been optimized for these browsers. 

  • Video Player - you will need a video player to watch instructional videos during sessions at your school site. Most computers come equipped with a video player (ex. Windows Media Player, Quicktime), and you can also download one for free.  You will also need a Flash player to work with our student tracking tools. 

  • Word Processor - for PCs, we strongly recommend Microsoft Word (2007 or later), since we've extensively tested our tools on this software.  Mac users working in Word will be able to access all documents, though you may experience a slight change in formatting (spacing, layout of page, etc.). 

  • Spreadsheets - we strongly recommend using Microsoft Excel (2007 or later), since we've extensively tested our tools on this software.  Not all of our tools are compatible with the Mac versions of Microsoft Excel. If you have a Mac, you'll need to find an alternative method to access these tools.  Our tools are not guaranteed to operate with Open Office. 

  • Adobe Reader XI - is also required, and you can download it for free. 

 

Please note that Teach For America cannot guarantee the safety of your laptop during Summer Training and will not be responsible for any damage or loss (including theft) to your laptop, software, hardware, or peripherals. While corps members will be working in safe areas during Summer Training, things can happen to any valuables like laptops in any public place, and it’s important to make sure to always secure your belongings and never leave them unattended in public. Also, tech support for personal computers at Summer Training will be extremely limited. 

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If you are concerned that your current technology may not meet Summer Training and regional requirements, or if you do not have a laptop and are concerned about your ability to purchase one, we encourage you to apply for transitional funding if you have not already done so. Please visit the Budgeting for Summer Training page on the Hub for more information on transitional funding. 

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Teach For America does not endorse or otherwise support the products and services recommended above. This list is merely informational.

The following packing list is provided to help you plan for your arrival t Summer Training. This list is NOT exhaustive, and some of the items below may not apply to you. 

 

All corps members must pack: 

  1. ALL Summer Training materials and paperwork. 

  2. Government-issued, valid, unexpired proof of identification with photo and signature, such as a passport or driver’s license (will be needed for your background check) 

  3. Completed pre-Summer Training work 

  4. Technology (see to the left) 

    • Laptop computer (strongly recommended) 

    • Printer (strongly recommended) 

    • Ethernet cord (strongly recommended) for use in dorm room 

    • Wireless router (optional) for use in dorm room 

  5. Professional clothing* 

    • Men’s Professional Dress 

      • Dress slacks or khakis 

      • Collared shirt 

      • Dress shoes or loafers 

      • Some School Sites 

        • Suite or sportcoat 

        • Tie 

        • Removal of facial jewelry 

    • Women’s Professional Dress 

      • Dress slacks or khakis (no gaucho / yoga pants or leggings/jeggins allowed)

      • Dress blouses or collared shirts (shirts should have conservative neckline) 

      • Knee length skirts and/or dresses 

      • Dress shoes 

      • Some School Sites 

        • Suite coat or blazer 

        • Removal of facial jewelry 

        • No open-toed shoes 

        • No heels (ECE and Elementary) 

  6. Umbrella or poncho for use in case of inclement weather 

  7. Any medications you use (enough for the duration of Summer Training) 

  8. Dorm items - we have found that the following list captures the majority of needs: 

    • Ethernet cord (strongly recommended) for use in dorm room 

    • Alarm clock/radio 

    • Backpack 

    • Desk lamp 

    • Iron 

    • Clothes hangers 

    • Linens: x-long twin sheets, blankets, pillow, towels, and a mattress pad 

    • Shower caddy 

    • Footwear for the shower 

    • Laundry detergent 

    • Cleaning supplies 

    • Trashcan and bags 

    • Toilet paper

  9. Classroom resources 

    • Anything that would aid you in your development as a teacher (ex. dictionary, thesaurus) 

  10. Office supplies that would be helpful in preparing lessons, such as:

    • Pens 

    • No. 2 pencils 

  11. Graphing calculator, if needed for certification testing (please reach out to Lauren Weekes (Lauren.Weekes@teachforamerica.org) if you have any questions about certification testing) 

  12. Notebooks 

 

*Please note: This list provides a general overview, but each school site will have a specific dress code teachers must follow. You can download a printable version of this packing list here.

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