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• Free Will Writing, Probate and Lasting Power of Attorney
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• Legal Support

Writing a will

Making a will allows you to make important decisions that affect your family and dependants after your death. A will can spare your loved ones unnecessary work and heartache at a time when they are least able to cope with it. As an NASUWT member, you have access to a free online wills portal, operated by BBH Legal Services/Thompsons Solicitors on behalf of the NASUWT. The portal allows you to generate your own will, as well as a mirror will for your spouse or partner, free of cost in your own time and at your convenience. A reduced-rate will writing service is also provided by the NASUWT for members’ families. If your will is complex, you will be referred to a wills specialist for advice on a bespoke will, for which there will be a discounted fee payable if you wish to go ahead. BBH reserve the right to make a charge if your will contains complex tax provisions or you make substantial changes once the will has been drafted.

If you are a member in England and Wales , you can use Thompsons online portal to start writing your free will.

If you are a member in Northern Ireland , please use Thompsons Northern Ireland’s separate facility (pdf) to start your free will.

If you are a member in Scotland , please use Thompsons Scotland’s separate facility to start your free will.

Probate administration and lasting power of attorney

A reduced rate probate administration and lasting power of attorney (LPA) service is also available to NASUWT members and their families. You will only need to complete a simple questionnaire. Call Thompsons Solicitors on 0808 100 2221 to request an information pack or for more information go to the Thompsons web page .

Further information

To access these services, you will need to provide your name, contact details and your NASUWT membership number. If there is a problem with your membership or you do not know your membership number, please log in to access your online e-Membership record or email the NASUWT Membership Team . If you are dissatisfied with these services for any reason, complaints should be addressed to:  BBH Legal Services Eastham Hall 109 Eastham Village Road Wirrall CH62 0AF

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UFT Legal Services Plan

Get free legal expertise whenever you need it.

If you need legal assistance with everyday issues like reviewing a lease or contract, dealing with a warranty, or help writing an important letter, as a UFT member, you have access to these services for free. Under the plan, an attorney will also prepare a will, a health care proxy and power of attorney for you for free.

The UFT Legal Services Plan provides union members with free and discounted legal services from the national legal office of Feldman, Kramer & Monaco, P.C. These benefits extend to spouses, domestic partners and children under age 19 (or under age 25 if the child is a full-time student).

Retired UFT members have access to our Retiree Legal Plan with an elder law supplement. Read more about the UFT's legal services for retirees . 

To access the UFT Legal Services Plan, UFT members can call  212-331-6325 .

Download the brochure

Available services

• Free telephone advice and consultation  Participants have access to unlimited telephone consultations and advice.
• Free office consultations Participants are entitled to two sessions each calendar year concerning any new legal matter with a plan attorney or a local referral attorney.
• Free letter writing Plan attorneys will write as many legal letters as needed. In matters such as consumer protection and credit resolution, a telephone call from a plan attorney is often the ideal solution.
• Free document review Plan attorneys will review documents such as automobile leases, promissory notes, retail sales agreements and other contracts of up to 10 pages per document.
• Free wills, power of attorney, health care proxy  Participants are entitled to the preparation of a will, living will, health care proxy and power of attorney annually without any additional charge. Reciprocal wills are also prepared at no charge for spouses/domestic partners. 
• Free special-needs trust If you have a dependent with special needs, the National Legal Office will prepare a special needs trust or supplemental needs trust to be incorporated into your last will and testament.
• Free residential-lease review  The firm will review a covered individual’s lease or proposed lease for their primary residence. It will offer advice about changes to the lease and answer questions about the lease.
• Personal injury fee reduction If you or an immediate family member is injured in any type of accident, call the legal plan immediately. The firm will determine the viability of a personal injury lawsuit. It’s important to call the plan as soon as possible to preserve evidence. The plan can save participants thousands of dollars due to a reduced contingency fee. If there is no recovery, there is no fee.
• Identity theft Plan attorneys can help you avoid becoming an identity theft victim and reclaim your identity if you are a victim. This help may include legal advice on the laws governing this crime, the appropriate course of action, the proper entities to contact to place a fraud alert and assistance with formulation of the appropriate dispute letters to the agencies and creditors involved.
• Bankruptcy Plan attorneys can offer advice on alternatives to bankruptcy such as creditor workout, including suspension of interest, budget review and, in extreme circumstances, Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy alternatives. Where appropriate, the plan attorney may contact the creditor involved to discuss favorable alternatives to ever-mounting debt or collection litigation.
• Veterans benefit Participants will get help in obtaining the Veterans Administration Aid and Attendance benefit.
• Real estate   Plan participants will receive advice on the purchase or sale of a primary residence.
• Stockbroker fraud or abuse Financial abuse cases arising from investment fraud, investment loss, financial-adviser misconduct and account churning may be accepted on a contingent-fee basis by a participating referral attorney with a 10% reduction from the standard contingency fee approved by the court of the applicable state.
• Elder law Plan attorneys or a referral attorney can provide representation and advice regarding Elder Law matters at a reduced fee.
• Senior citizen abuse If a UFT member, their parents or their grandparents are the victims of physical abuse, financial abuse or institutional neglect, the plan will offer advice and/or send a cease-and-desist letter to the offending party and provide strategies, including referrals to the appropriate regulatory agencies, when advisable.

If you think you’ve been targeted by a scam, get information and assistance from the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline.

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How to Write Your Will Online in 15 Minutes

One quick document can avoid leaving your estate in a mess.

My great-uncle, a bachelor and bon vivant, wrote his will on a cocktail napkin. It probably took less than 15 minutes to complete. When he died 14 years later, at age 90, the will was ruled valid in his state because it was properly witnessed by two people at a bar.

But you can write your will quickly and inexpensively without resorting to a napkin.

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Laurie Macdonald, 66, had put off writing a will for years when she discovered FreeWill, a no-fee, online will-writing service. The former Florida program director of Defenders of Wildlife had once begun drafting a will with an attorney but never finished. FreeWill allowed her to get it done, Macdonald says: “It took more than 15 minutes, though probably not more than half an hour.”

Why bother?

Die without a will, and your state's laws determine who gets your assets — your bank accounts and everything else. A will is where you can make sure your camera collection goes to your nephew and your jewelry is divided among your daughters. Most important , if you have young children, a will is also where you can name a guardian for them should you die before they reach adulthood.

"For many people, state laws don't exactly meet their needs,” says attorney Paul Kassabian, legal product counsel at LegalZoom, which offers online will-writing packages. Macdonald's longtime partner, for one, wouldn't inherit anything at Macdonald's death if there were no will. Still, many people die without this document, leaving their heirs to battle over their estates. And you don't need to have Aretha Franklin's millions for such fights to get nasty.

It's easy to put off …

Forty-five percent of Americans 55 and older don't have a will, according to a new survey from Merrill Lynch and Age Wave. Why might that be? In 2017, when Caring.com, a senior-care resource, asked adults without a will why that was so, the most common answer was, “I just haven't gotten around to it.” The arrival of children didn't seem to have much impact: Only 36 percent of respondents with children under 18 had end-of-life plans in place.

… But easy to get done

Do-it-yourself sites and software can smooth the process. Says Macdonald about FreeWill, for instance: “It was really clear, really simple.” Supported by nonprofit organizations that might benefit from philanthropic commitments made in wills generated at its site, FreeWill has produced more than 27,000 wills since 2017; Rocket Lawyer says it has created over a million.

Get more tips on saving money and budgeting in the AARP Money Matters newsletter

State laws matter

If you don't follow all the local formalities, your will may not be legally valid. A lot can go wrong. In New York, witnesses need to include their residential addresses. In Utah, handwritten wills must be penned entirely by the person making the will. And in Louisiana, wills must be signed in the presence of a notary public. Find links to your state's laws .

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Avoid these goofs

Put your funeral wishes in your will and you may not get the send-off you planned. “Your will may not even be found until after you're buried,” cautions Kevin Flatley, an attorney and author of  The Little Blue Book of Estate Planning . Another common error is naming someone your executor without asking if he or she wants the job. Finally, retirement account assets, life insurance and annuities don't pass down via wills. Beneficiary-designation forms rule here. If they're not up to date, your ex-spouse could end up inheriting against your wishes.

See an attorney

If you have significant assets, children from multiple marriages or complicated business arrangements, you may need professional legal help. “There are a lot of variables, and it's easy for a layperson to overlook something,” says Flatley, noting that a will by itself may not be sufficient.

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Low-bill wills

Where to go for a will when on a budget:

• FreeWill  This no-cost service also allows you to draw up a new will gratis if your wishes or circumstances change.
• LegalZoom  Services range from a $69 will to a $149 package that includes a living trust and related documents. 
• Quicken WillMaker Plus 2019  This $80 software package can create a will and other estate-planning paperwork. 
• Rocket Lawyer  A membership giving you access to estate-planning documents is $40 per month

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Benefits Recommended For You

SAVE MONEY WITH THESE LIMITED-TIME OFFERS

• Unite Legal Services’ free will* service is available to all members once they have been a member of the union for 13 weeks
• The service enables you to have a simple will prepared free of charge by a legal professional
• Using a high street solicitor to make a will can prove to be expensive
• Our experts will guide you through the will writing process, explaining the stages clearly to you

Contact your local Unite office for more information. 

If you are a Unite member in Scotland, click here to find out more about the legal support available to you and to find details of your local office.

It is easy to assume that your property and possessions will automatically pass to your loved ones when you die, but sadly this is not always the case. Writing a will is the only way to guarantee that your estate is administered and divided in accordance with your wishes – so it’s important you take the time now to make a will. Making a will with a high street solicitor can be an expensive exercise, but Unite members can have a simple will drawn up for free* by one of Unite Legal Services’ panel of expert solicitors.

What happens if I die without making a will?

If a person dies without making a will they are ‘intestate’. This means the estate becomes subject to a strict set of inheritance laws, which quite simply do not take the deceased’s wishes into account. For example, the Rules of Intestacy make no provision for unmarried and unregistered partners. This means that on Intestacy, the surviving partner will not automatically inherit any of the property and possessions owned in the sole name of the deceased. Similarly, the rules only recognise natural and adopted children, and so do not acknowledge step-children. As you can imagine, this situation can lead to complications for your loved ones when they come to sorting your affairs. By choosing Unite the Union’s free will writing service, members can avoid such complications.

Making a will with Unite Legal Services

The Unite the Union free will* service is available to all members once they have been a member of the union for 13 weeks. Contact your local Unite office for more information. 

*If your affairs are complex a small charge may be made for the service. However, the overall cost will be significantly lower than using a high street solicitor.

Read the latest news relating to: Wills

Unite Legal Services: Weekly coronavirus COVID-19 latest news round-up – 24 January 2022

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• Trust & Estate Planning

Best Online Will Makers for September 2024

Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust is our top pick because it's comprehensive and affordable

An online will maker is a service that helps an individual create a will from the comfort of their home, potentially for less than an estate attorney would charge. Online will makers work with attorneys and other legal professionals to generate a will based on the information you provide, which (so long as it's accurate and executed correctly, in addition to meeting your state's requirements) is just as legally binding as a standard will.

A strong online will maker offers a robust suite of estate planning services and documents at an affordable price. As creating a will can be a intimidating prospect, the best online will makers should also provide support tools that will walk you through the entire process and ensure your documents are customized to fit your unique situation.

According to our research, Nolo's Quicken WillMaker & Trust is the best overall online will maker due to its downloadable software, free software updates, and access to a catalog of estate planning documents. We researched 13 companies and evaluated them on several factors, including company history, price, availability in all states, offerings for online resources, ease of use, compatibility with various devices, and whether it was easy to make updates.

The 6 Best Online Will Makers for September 2024

• Best Overall: Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust
• Best Value: U.S. Legal Wills
• Best for Ease of Use: Trust & Will
• Best Comprehensive Estate Plan: TotalLegal
• Best Free Online Will Maker: Do Your Own Will
• Best for Making Changes: Rocket Lawyer
• Our Top Picks
• Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust
• U.S. Legal Wills
• Trust & Will
• Do Your Own Will
• Rocket Lawyer
• See More (3)

The Bottom Line

• Compare Providers
• Additional Services

How to Make a Will Online

• Will-Friendly Assets
• Pros & Cons
• Will Alternatives
• Why Trust Us
• Methodology

Best Overall : Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust

• Price (One-Time) : N/A
• Price (Annual) : Starting at $99
• Legal support : No
• Free trial : No
• Update period : One year of software updates included

Customers get access to a large number of estate planning documents with this Nolo product, and the software itself is easy to use. You’re not required to have an internet connection except to download and update the software.

Flat rate for comprehensive estate planning documents

Free software updates for version year

Downloadable software

Estate planning documents invalid in Louisiana

Minimum operating system requirements

Downloadable software unavailable for Starter tier

Nolo, which is headquartered in Pleasanton, California, started by publishing DIY legal guides back in 1971. It was one of the first websites to provide online legal assistance and information. It's branched out into other products, like its Quicken WillMaker & Trust software tools.

You can download the program for $99 to $209, depending on the version. They include key estate planning documents like a legal will, a living trust , a financial power of attorney (POA) , a healthcare directive, final arrangements, and a letter to survivors, in addition to other types of personal finance and home and family management documents.

The software is compatible with both Mac and Windows, and it's easy to use. It allows you to create customized legal documents using a simple interview survey to fill out forms. You can then save your information and download completed documents in PDF format. You can update your will at any time and receive legal and technical updates via the internet.

There's a legal manual to help you answer common questions within Quicken WillMaker & Trust, and you can contact technical support for additional help. Louisiana residents won’t be able to use this software because it doesn’t address the estate planning requirements for this state.

Best Value : U.S. Legal Wills

 US Legal Wills

• Price (One-Time) : Starting at $49.95 for individuals and $99.90 for couples
• Price (Annual) : N/A
• Legal support : Yes
• Update period : Unlimited

U.S. Legal Wills is one of the most affordable will options we've seen. It offers 40% off forms for partners or spouses, and it also has an add-on service to get an attorney to review your estate plan. It’s one of the only websites that accommodates affordable wills for expats and those who have personal property or other assets located outside the U.S.

Free unlimited updates

Forms for assets outside the U.S. and expats included

Discounted documents for spouse or partner

No living revocable trust available

Website less intuitive than other competitors

Clunky signup process for spouses

Formed in 2000 and based in New York City, U.S. Legal Wills is operated by PartingWishes Inc., an independent organization that works with U.S.-based lawyers to create legal documents, without being tied to a particular law firm. Services are available in all U.S. states (except Louisiana) and provide some of the best values and discounts of all the websites we reviewed.

Starting at $49.95 for a last will and testament, U.S. Legal Wills customers also get free storage for their documents on the company's secure servers, in addition to unlimited updates. You can pay annually or opt for the lifetime feature if you want to keep storing your documents with U.S. Legal Wills, which is only $129.95. It's a more economical choice if you plan on storing your will on its servers for more than a few years. Spouses or partners can get mirror wills (plus additional documents) for 40% off.

You can create a variety of estate planning documents on the U.S. Legal Wills website, then designate what the company calls Keyholders. These are people who have access to your documents, such as trusted family members or the individual you've named as executor .

Members can receive additional support by submitting a ticket through the customer service portal.

Best for Ease of Use : Trust & Will

 Trust & Will

• Price (One-Time) : Starting at $199 for individuals and $299 for couples
• Price (Annual) : Starting at $19 after first year
• Update period : One year

Customers can create their estate planning documents quickly and simply with Trust & Will. The company offers an easy way to decide which option is best through the "Get Started" section of its site. You can then fill in relevant details using an interview-style format.

We also like that Trust & Will makes it easy for you to make your documents legally binding by mailing you your completed documents for free and providing complete instructions.

Comprehensive learning center

Three options available

Website is intuitive to use

Only one year of unlimited updates

No free upfront legal consultations

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Diego, California, Trust & Will aims to modernize the financial planning process by providing an easy and secure way to create your estate plan online. Document creation is seamless using its user-friendly website and its step-by-step path to getting started. The process can take as little as 15 minutes, and the company even mails your completed documents to you for no extra charge, along with instructions to make sure everything is legally binding.

The fintech expert's state-specific trusts offer pretty much everything you'll need, including a living will’s schedule of assets and a revocable living trust to help your loved ones avoid probate. It's one of the only do-it-yourself companies to offer this option.

Trust & Will has a flat fee for wills of $199 for an individual and $299 for couples. A customized trust costs $499, or $599 for couples. This includes unlimited updates for a year. You'll pay $19 annually after the first year for unlimited updates for wills and $39 for trusts.

Best Comprehensive Estate Plan : TotalLegal

Total Legal

• Price (One-Time) : Starting at $19.95
• Update period : 60 days

TotalLegal is one of the only companies that provides comprehensive legal services that include do-it-yourself business and estate planning documents plus free and discounted access to attorneys through its TotalLegal™ plan.

Low annual or monthly fee

Free and discounted legal services for premium members

Create a wide variety of documents

Limited update period for one-off document purchases

No living trusts available

No online access for executors

TotalLegal is part of Pro Se Planning Inc., which provides self-guided legal products, including estate planning and business formation documents. Pro Se Planning was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. Customers can purchase and complete individual estate planning documents starting at $19.95 for a last will and testament, which remains available in your online account for 60 days, then offers unlimited updates.

The biggest advantage of TotalLegal is its yearly subscription plan. You get access to legal services for $99 a year, including a consultation, attorney-reviewed documents, and a will with free updates each year. All this provides the most comprehensive resources for those who need some guidance.

Document creation is simple. You’ll go through a series of questions to inform and complete your document, which can then be downloaded and printed. TotalLegal’s help center provides extensive information, and you can always call or email customer support if you have any additional questions.

There are discounted services that include creating a simple will with a trust. You'll also get access to its document storage digital vault service, where there are no storage limits.

Best Free Online Will Maker : Do Your Own Will

 Do Your Own Will

• Price (One-Time) : Free
• Free trial : N/A

This free option offers one of the widest varieties of forms without paying for extras. There's no need to create an account or hand over any credit card details. You can download your documents instantly.

Account not needed to access documents

Available in all 50 states

Save your will as either a PDF or Word document

No legal support

Must check state laws yourself

Do Your Own Will is a completely free way to make a last will and testament, POA, or a living will. Beyond the unbeatable price, one of the major perks is that it’s simple to use. There's no need to sign up for an account, but you'll have to provide your email address if you want to make updates or changes later.

Users complete forms online by filling in details such as marital status, information on your dependents, how you want your assets to be divided, and who you want to name as your executor. Download the document as a PDF or Word document, then you can sign it.

Originally founded in 1999, Do Your Own Will is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. It’s available nationwide, but there's one caveat: There's no legal support, so make sure you do your own research to ensure your will is legally binding.

Best for Making Changes : Rocket Lawyer

 Rocket Lawyer

• Price (One-Time) : Free will template
• Price (Annual) : Starting at $239.88
• Free trial : Yes
• Update period : Unlimited with subscription

You get access to all Rocket Lawyer's estate planning documents for one monthly price and you can make updates whenever you like. What makes Rocket Lawyer stand out is its ability to get legal advice for new legal issues and the ability to sign your documents securely online. This allows any changes you make to go into effect immediately.

Wide variety of legal and estate planning documents

Free seven-day trial

Low monthly fee for premium access

Monthly membership pricier than other options

Credit card information required for free trial

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in San Francisco, California, Rocket Lawyer offers online legal services that include documents and attorney services. Rocket Lawyer provides customers with two monthly subscription models, which cost $39.99 per month or $239.88 per year, depending on the membership chosen. You get unlimited access to all its legal documents, including the ability to make updates and attorney services. The price also includes a free 30-minute consultation on new legal matters, an “ask a lawyer” option for your legal questions, and other professional services.

You can download wills, trusts, and powers of attorney immediately after you complete all the required information online, and then you'll receive instructions to make the documents legally binding. They can be securely signed online, plus you can invite others to sign them digitally as well. This allows you to make updates and changes quickly. You can also contact customer service by email, online chat, or calling its hotline.

We’re a fan of Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust because you can make your will or trust and other documents with one download for one flat price. Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust is an option with great features for your estate planning forms if you're computer savvy. However, you may want to choose another option if you want additional help from a live lawyer, and both TotalLegal and Rocket Lawyer offer avenues for accessing attorneys.

If you're looking for a quick, easy-to-use service, then Trust & Will's user-friendly website and its step-by-step document creation process may appeal to you. U.S. Legal Wills, meanwhile, is among the most affordable will options currently available and provides great value for its price. However, if you're on a particularly tight budget, then Do Your Own Will is an excellent free option.

Compare Online Will Makers

Online Will Makers: Additional Services

While writing your own will may seem like an intimidating task, the actual complexity will depend on the nature of your estate. You may be better served hiring an estate planning attorney if you possess an intricate web of assets. If your estate is relatively uncomplicated, then you can follow the steps below to put a will together yourself (though it may still be a good idea to have a lawyer review the finished document).

• Catalog your assets : Before you start writing your will, take an inventory of every asset you own/have in your name that you are legally permitted to bequeath in your state. You'll want to be as detailed as possible when you list these assets in your will to avoid any confusion about what a beneficiary should receive.
• Find an online template : You can certainly write a will from scratch, but you can also make things easier on yourself by utilizing an online template from a reputable source. This will reduce the amount of time you'll spend writing and minimize the chances of making any errors. Ensure whichever template you choose includes any additional clauses important to you, such as what powers your executor should have or how assets not assigned to any beneficiaries ought to be handled.
• Start with your name and address : While the exact identifying information you'll need in your will may vary based on the template, you'll typically have to include your full legal name, city (and possibly county), and state. Make sure your template includes a sentence revoking any prior wills you may have had.
• Name your executor(s) and guardian(s) (if applicable) : In your will, you'll need to identify the executor administering your will (as well as their successor if your first choice is unavailable) and the guardian (plus their successor) you're granting custody of your minor children (if you have any). You'll also likely have to include the mailing address and Social Security number (SSN) of each individual you name in your will. Be sure to first communicate with each individual you want to name as an executor or guardian to ensure they're willing to accept their respective roles.
• Choose your beneficiaries and the asset(s) they will receive : As with your executor(s) and guardian(s), you'll have to name the beneficiaries receiving your assets, in addition to potentially providing their mailing addresses, SSNs, and relations to you. You'll then need to specify which asset(s) each person or organization will be given.
• Sign and date your will : Once you've finished writing your will, the final step is signing it before the witnesses required by your state. If you don't complete this step, then your will won't be legally binding.

After making copies of your completed will, store the original somewhere safe and inform your executor(s) of where they can find it. You'll also want to review and revise your will every few years and after any major upheavals in your life.

Assets You Can Include in a Will

After cataloguing your assets, you'll then need to determine which assets you can actually include in your will. Certain assets, such as joint owned property, can't or won't need to be listed in a will. Below are the most important types of assets that (if you have them) you should be sure to include when making your estate plan:

• Bank accounts : This category includes checking accounts, saving accounts, money market accounts, and certificates of deposit (CDs). If you have any bank accounts that have a payable on death (POD) or transfer on death (TOD) designation, then you don't need to list them in your will.
• Investments : If you've invested in any securities, such as stocks; bonds; commodities; U.S. bills, notes, and bonds; or mutual funds, then you'll also need to include those in your will. Retirement plans with investment assets in them (i.e., IRA, 401(k), etc.) only need to be listed if these accounts don't have designated beneficiaries.
• Real estate : Houses (both primary residences and vacation homes) and mobile homes, rental properties (including duplexes), condos, co-ops, timeshares, undeveloped and agricultural land, and even boat/marina dock space are all real estate assets that should be included in your will.
• Businesses : If you own a business or have other business interests related to a partnership, limited partnership, LLC, or corporation, then you may need to list these in your will to prevent any confusion after you pass. You should also include any business property for which you are the sole owner.
• Personal items : This category broadly covers any physical and digital assets you own that you'd want to pass onto your beneficiaries. While it's impossible to list every kind of property that might be considered a personal item, common examples include jewelry and precious metals, vehicles (such as cars, bicycles, motorcycles, motor homes/RVs, boats, and planes), furniture, appliances, family heirlooms, art, and other collectibles.
• Pets : This is a bit of a special case; legally, pets are considered property. This means that, if you pass away and don't have a plan in place for any animals you own, the courts will treated them like any other asset without a designated beneficiary. As such, you'll want to appoint a guardian for your pet in your will, much as you would for any minors or others you're responsible for.

Pros and Cons of Having a Will

Control over how your assets are distributed

Ensure your loved ones are cared for

Probate process can take a long time

Won't take effect in the event of incapacitation

Becomes a public record after your death

Pros of Having a Will

• Control over how your assets are distributed : Perhaps the greatest benefit of having a will is that it ensures your assets are distributed to your beneficiaries according to your wishes (unless you have outstanding debt, in which case your estate would be used to pay off whatever you owe). Without a will, your estate will typically be subject to intestate succession, wherein your state's intestacy laws will determine how your assets are distributed.
• Ensure your loved ones are cared for : In addition to ensuring your loved ones are cared for financially, having a will allows you to control who will look after your dependents (any minor children, pets, etc. for whom you're the primary caregiver) in the event of your passing. If you don't have this outlined in a will, the courts will appoint a guardian for your dependents.

Cons of Having a Will

• Probate process can take a long time : Perhaps the biggest downside of a will is that the probate process, wherein the courts review the deceased's assets and either determine inheritors or validate the will, can take a considerable amount of time. Depending on how complex your estate is and where you live, probate can take several months to over a year. This process can drag on for even longer if you have property in multiple states, as your beneficiaries will have to go through probate in each one.
• Won't take effect in the event of incapacitation : In the event that you're still living but become physically or mentally unable to manage your affairs, an advance directive (also known as a living will) will be required to designate someone who can make medical care decisions on your behalf. At the same time, you will need a living trust for you to appoint someone to manage your financial affairs. Since a last will and testament only goes into effect when you pass away, you cannot use it for either of these purposes.
• Becomes a public record after your death : Your will is considered a confidential document while you're still alive. After you pass away and the will goes through probate, it becomes a public document. A will becomes a public record so that anyone not included in your will can have a chance to file a claim against your estate.

Alternative to a Will

The primary alternative to a will is a living trust . The latter is a legal arrangement wherein an individual designates assets that are transferred to a trust account, which is managed by a trustee of the account opener's choosing. A living trust is created when the account opener signs a trust agreement, which typically specifies the trust's purpose, what kinds of assets it holds, the trustee's duties and responsibilities, and which assets in the trust each beneficiary will receive after the grantor dies.

Wills and living trusts share many similarities, but there are a few key differences that set them apart from one another:

• A will is a straightforward document that only details how the testator's assets should be distributed after their passing. Meanwhile, a living trust is a complicated arrangement wherein the grantor sets aside specific assets to fund a trust account while they're alive.
• A will doesn't go into effect until after the testator dies, whereas a living trust is in effect as soon as it's signed.
• In most cases, a will goes into probate after the testator dies, and a trust avoids the probate process entirely.
• A will becomes part of the public record, whereas a living trust's details will only be known to the grantor, trustee, and beneficiaries.

Although a living trust can be considered an alternative to a will, they aren't mutually exclusive. If you want to have an especially comprehensive estate plan , you can have both a will and a living trust. However, if your estate isn't particularly complex, then a will by itself may be sufficient.

Why You Should Trust Us

Investopedia collected and analyzed several key data points from over 13 companies to identify the most important factors for readers choosing an online will maker. We used this data to review each company for price, availability, compatibility with various devices, and other features to provide unbiased, comprehensive reviews to ensure our readers make the right financial decisions for their needs. Investopedia launched in 1999, and has been helping readers find the best online will makers since 2020.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are online wills legit.

Online wills are legitimate as long as they comply with federal and state laws. Online will companies hire licensed attorneys and legal professionals to carefully word their estate planning documents so that each is legally binding, but you'll want to make sure that your final documents will carry the same weight as one that an attorney creates. Check the fine print of the online will company to make sure it’s compliant in your state.

Is Paying for an Online Will Maker Worth It?

Using a free online will service can suffice if your estate is simple and straightforward: You don’t have any children, your only beneficiary is your spouse, and your estate is very small. But you'll probably benefit from using a paid service if you have a larger estate or a more complex situation, or if you want a legal professional to help you work through your documents and other financial affairs.

Who Should Draw Up a Will?

It's a good idea for anyone with assets that multiple heirs can legitimately claim. Not dividing up assets can cause litigation among family members, creating resentment and heartache after the individual passes.

Should an Individual Write Their Own Will?

It's inadvisable to write your own will without any sort of legal guidance unless you have an up-to-date background in and knowledge of estate law. Otherwise, it's too easy to inadvertently sidestep a rule or law in your state that you didn't even know about. This could result in your final wishes not being carried out, throwing your estate into chaos as the court looks for alternate solutions. Always touch base with a legal professional before writing and finalizing your own will.

What Should You Avoid Putting in a Will?

Your will is not a private document after your death, so don't include anything that you don't want to become a matter of public record. Forming a living trust is a much more private estate-planning alternative. It will avoid airing out all the most intimate details of your life in probate court. A will must pass through probate in order for your estate to be settled.

What Is the Best Online Will Maker?

According to our research, Nolo's Quicken WillMaker & Trust website offers the best online will maker. However, depending on your needs, you may be better suited with another company. Do Your Own Will, for example, is a great free option, so long as you're confident in your ability to create a legally binding will without any legal support.

Are Wills Really Necessary?

In most cases, a will is an indispensable part of an estate plan. If you pass away without a will, then you risk your assets being distributed to different persons or parties than you might have wished for. Having a will in place can give you the peace of mind that this won't come to pass. There are a few cases where a will isn't strictly necessary, such as if you lack sufficient assets or any beneficiaries.

What Is the Difference Between a Will and a Trust?

Wills and trusts are both estate planning documents, the former being a document detailing the testator's wishes for their assets, while the latter requires funding a trust account with certain assets that the grantor has set aside for it. Additional differences include that wills become effective after the testator passes (living trusts are in effect after signing), trusts avoid the probate process that most wills are subject to, and wills are public records.

How We Pick the Best Online Will Makers

Our goal is to make sure our recommendations are ones we would share with our family and friends when looking to choose an online will maker company. We looked at 13 companies before choosing the top providers. Factors we looked at include company history, price, availability in all states, offerings for online resources, whether the product was simple to use, compatibility with various devices, and whether it was easy to make updates.

Our opinions are our own and are not influenced by the payment we receive from advertisers.  Click here to learn more about our review process.

Investopedia / Zoe Hansen

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CBInsights. " Trust & Will ."

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Rocket Lawyer. " Rocket Lawyer Introduces Rocket Tax ."

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Rocket Lawyer. " Memberships and Pricing ."

Trust & Will. " What to Include in a Will: Property, Assets & More ."

Nolo. " Making a Will: What Property to Include ."

Trust & Will. " Pet Guardianship - What It Is and Why You Need It ."

Federal Trade Commission: Consumer Advice. " Debts and Deceased Relatives ."

Cornell Law School: Legal Information Institute. " Intestate Succession ."

National Council on Aging. " Last Will and Testament Guide for 2024 ."

California Courts: The Judicial Branch of California. " Wills, Estates, and Probate ."

Cornell Law School: Legal Information Institute. " Ancillary Probate ."

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Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. " What Is a Revocable Living Trust? "

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FREE Wills For All Teachers

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We started The Will Guys to offer a fresh way of delivering Wills to customers; without all the fuss and cliches associated with ‘old school’ Will Writers.

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no fuss, plain English Wills, written by experts

Will writing. 30+ years of experience..

We started The Will Guys to offer a fresh way of delivering Wills to customers; without all the fuss and cliches associated with ‘old school’ Will Writers (so we’ve heard).

With over 30 years combined experience in the financial and legal sector we really know what we’re talking about and always strive to offer a full and comprehensive service to each and every client.

We believe that Will writing doesn’t have to be the way it has been in the past. We strive to offer tailor made Wills, in plain English, written by experts but at a market leading low price.

As a small family run business, we understand each others strengths and how to support each other in what we do and where Will writing is concerned we think we’ve cracked it!

We are pleased to be able to offer a free WILL writing service for all Teachers.

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Director and Founder

Teachers – free will

How it works.

To claim your FREE Will, submit your information using the form below. Simply fill in the form and a member of our team will be in touch.

What you’ll receive:

• A Will written for you
• No nonsense advice
• Expert advice from our friendly Will writers

Why DO I NEED A WILL?

Not having a Will causes all sorts of problems for your family and people left behind. It could mean that some or all of your inheritance either goes to the wrong person or to the state.

Making a Will enables you to plan exactly what will happen to your property and belongings (estate) following your demise. This ensures that those you would like to benefit actually do so, in accordance with your wishes. At the same time avoiding any possible disputes between family or relatives.

WHAT TYPE OF WILL DO I NEED?

Unfortunately, there is not a one size fits all Will solution, everyone’s situation is unique to them and your Will should be written to reflect this. 

We can provide help with Wills, Trusts, Long Term Care Planning, Lasting Powers of Attorney and Estate Planning

What ARE THE COSTS?

We are pleased to be able to offer a  FREE Will writing service for all Teachers. There is a small charge to cover postage costs of £13 for a Single Will and £18 for a Mirror Will.

Further estate planning may be recommended, this would be optional and would be charged at an additional cost.

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Protect your family Write a will from home

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Introduction from our CEO

Priya Surya quickly shows how Goodwill can work for you.

Why Goodwill?

Verified will documents.

Ironclad, legally enforceable documents based on state-specific laws.

Privacy and Convenience

Modern estate planning from comfort and safety of home through a secure interface.

Global Coverage

Made in the US, to cover assets locally and abroad, for common law countries.

Update Anytime

Adding a new home, or changing your distribution? Just log in, take a minute to make the change, and print your new will.

Help from Live Experts

Speak with real humans online, via video or over the phone. Talk to us

How does it compare?

Traditional estate planning.

Lots of questions and paperwork

Find, visit, and pay for a lawyer

3-6 weeks for a will

Bait and switch pricing

Using Goodwill

Create a legally valid will at home, live help from will writing experts, flat, affordable pricing, update your will, anytime, doing nothing.

What are the consequences?

Who looks after your family?

Where are all your accounts?

How will the bills get paid?

Our partners:

Interested in offering wills to your affiliate audience, customers, or employees? Chat to us online.

Create your will in minutes, store online and update anytime

Answer a few easy questions.

Easily decide what is right for you and your family, with all the options you would have if you used a lawyer.

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We pack everything you need into a handy, easy to understand document that you just need to sign.

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Built by lawyers

Our will writing tool has been created based on statutes such as the Wills Act, the Probate and Administration Act, and US case law.

Your will is designed around your state's laws and your specific cirumstances.

Based on US law, your will is:

Fully legal after proper signing

No need to notarise your will

No need to register your will

Your will is built around you, with expert support when you need it

Guardians for children.

Ensure your children’s wellbeing by naming someone you trust. If they live abroad, name a temporary guardian as well.

Gift anything to anyone

Anything you own can be gifted to any individual you want. Got that record collection that you want to go to that special person, not a problem. You can also choose to leave vehicles, collections of items and even simple money gifts.

Your estate split how you want

Your will, your way. Ultimate flexibility around who gets your assets and possessions.

Naming an executor

Guidance on how to choose the right person to distribute your assets. Read about Choosing an executor

Organise all your assets

Give your executor all the information about your finances and properties in one place, attached to your will.

Personal Messages to loved ones

Leave personal messages to make your gifts even more meaningful.

Commonly asked questions

What happens when someone passes away in the us.

If they have a will , their appointed executor locates the will, applies to the courts for a ‘Grant of Probate’, approaches financial institutions to close accounts, distributes assets from the accounts according to the will.

If they don’t have a will , someone step up to represent the deceased in the middle of your family’s grief. Others who qualify must give their written consent.

They must create a Schedule of Assets, and apply to the court for ‘Letter of Administration’, and once granted, approach financial institutions, and then distribute assets according to the state’s own formula. You and your family have no say.

Do I need a will?

Main reasons

• Ensures your assets are not lost/go unclaimed by your family
• Secure guardianship for any minor children, and ensure they are financially and emotionally cared for by someone you trust
• Appoints a person you trust and have informed to execute your estate
• Prevents confusion regarding your wishes
• Give to charitable causes you care about

It is particularly important if:

• you have children under 21
• you have no clear heirs, and there’s a high likelihood your assets could go to the state
• you are in a domestic partnership

When do I not need a will?

If you have assets less than $50,000, then your estate need not go through the probate process. In this case, it may not be necessary to set out your assets in a will. If your wishes exactly match the law of intestacy, and you don’t have any minor children, and don’t care about who executes your estate,

What do I put in my will?

Seems like you’ll have to pull your hair out with sorting out bank statements and insurance policies, while the lawyer runs an expensive hourly bill.

At Goodwill, we want to remove all the stress and make it easy to create a will in minutes, and keep it updated throughout your life.

Step 1: About you

When you write your will, you’ll be asked some basic information that goes into your will such as your full name, address, marital status, children, pets

Step 2: Guardians for children

If you have children under 21 or pets, you’ll be able to appoint guardians here

Step 3: Distributing your wealth

You’ll have a chance to indicate who gets what percentage of your overall wealth between your family, friends, and social causes you care about.

We’ll ask for:

• Your primary beneficiaries (for example, your spouse or partner)
• Your secondary beneficiaries (children, parents, friends, others) if your primary beneficiaries pass away before you do.

Step 4: Choosing executors

Choosing someone you trust who is capable of navigating the legal and financial process if something happens to you is one of the most important parts of writing a will.

You can appoint a family, friend, or a professional in this section in minutes.

Optional step: Gifts

You may wish to give sums of money to the caretaker of your pet, or a beloved possession to your favourite niece or nephew. Here’s where you specify who gets what, along with a personal message to them.

You can leave:

• A specified sum of money
• An specific possession such as an heirloom ring, or automobile
• A collection of items

You can leave these items to anyone you wish, because US laws allow for full testamentary freedom.

If you leave a gift or percentage of estate to a child under 21, it will be held by the guardian for safekeeping until they reach adulthood.

Optional step: Assets

This is a helpful list of your assets so your executor and family can locate them easily. You can add just the name of the institutions where you have accounts, or more information such as account number and current balance. This is not required or legally binding.

How do I make my will legally valid?

Goodwill ensures your will is written in accordance with the laws in the US.

But until your will is printed and signed properly (with two witnesses), it’s just a piece of paper.

After you create a will on Goodwill, you’ll be able to download your will. Check your Downloads folder for the file.

Print and bind you will

Three staples down the left side will do nicely

Choose two people to witness your signing

They must be over 21 and they cannot be a beneficiary in your will or their spouse. They must also be identified clearly in the will.

The Signing

Together, you and your witnesses all watching, sign the will.

According to the Wills Act in the US, your will is now legally valid.

Store your will

Store in a safe place at home, or somewhere accessible to your executor. Inform him/her of its location.

According to the Wills Act in the US, your will is fully legal:

Do I need to submit my will to the authorities?

• after it is signed properly with two neutral witnesses
• no need to notarise your will
• no need to register your will

After signing, store in a safe place that your executor can access, and inform them.

Can I register my will?

It is not required but if you wish, you can register your will with the US Will Registry . The service only notes that you have a will, and does not store original or copies of your actual will.

How do I update my will?

Goodwill provides unlimited lifetime access. Simply login using your user name and password (or social login), make necessary changes, and re-download your will.

The remainder of your information is securely stored and accessible at any time

Why is Goodwill so much more affordable than going to a lawyer?

Our mission at Goodwill is to create an affordable and accessible will writing service that anyone can use. Using technology allows us to create efficiencies in how we serve our customers.

Goodwill offers live expert customer support 7 days a week, and unlimited lifetime access for only $99.

Who is behind Goodwill?

Goodwill was started by estate planning experts Priya Surya and Jonathan Summers-Muir, with support from Entrepreneur First, and SG Innovate, an effort to create a digital ecosystem in the US.

Priya is a Fulbright scholar and graduate of Harvard University where she obtained her MPA/ID in 2010. She previously worked with World Bank in Washington DC to bring technology to financial inclusion, and was head of New Market Growth in Asia for Bima Mobile, a company that makes insurance accessible to millions of emerging market consumers. Her interest in legal and financial planning stems from her own experience as a mother and daughter was the impetus behind starting Goodwill.

Jonathan is a web developer and graphic designer. He has led teams across a diverse range of data sensitive products from professional football software, door access security and data analytic aggregation software. He has a keen interest in making the complicated processes of estate planning into a straight forward simple process. He was born in the UK, and now calls the US home.

Can I have a will expert double check my will?

Yes, your will includes full post-sales support every day of the week. Click on the chat icon at the bottom of the screen to speak to us over chat or easily schedule a call.

After receiving your will, we advise you read it from top to bottom, and speak with us about any questions.

We can also refer a lawyer for thorny legal issues specific to your situation.

Should my spouse and I have a separate will or joint will?

Joint wills.

Joint wills are highly inflexible. Both partners must agree to make any changes. If one person passes away, it’s difficult for the other person to make changes.

Individual wills

With Individual wills, both partners create an account with their own email address and password.

Individual wills are as easy as mirror wills, and have the benefits without the draw backs.

The advantages are the following:

• Flexible - you can make your will exactly like your partner’s or completely different, or anywhere in between. It is up to you.
• Affordable - it’s even more pocket-friendly with our partner discount
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Why would I want to update my will?

If you bought a new home, added a new family member, gotten married or divorced, if your pet passed away or if you have started investing in a new robo advisory investment account, you should update your will to reflect these changes.

Often our children may be more or less independent as they grow older, and one might need more help than another.

Change is the only constant. Don’t let an outdated will disturb your peace of mind.

Still not sure? Explore our learning centre

Learn about will writing and probate

• 5 min read How to choose the right executor for your will?
• 6 min read The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Will
• 1 min read How do I get started with writing a will?

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In this EdWeek blog, an experiment in knowledge-gathering, Ferlazzo will address readers’ questions on classroom management, ELL instruction, lesson planning, and other issues facing teachers. Send your questions to [email protected]. Read more from this blog.

How to Help Students With Their Writing. 4 Educators Share Their Secrets

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Teaching students to write is no easy feat, and it’s a topic that has often been discussed on this blog.

It’s also a challenge that can’t have too much discussion!

Today, four educators share their most effective writing lessons.

‘Three Practices That Create Confident Writers’

Penny Kittle teaches first-year writers at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire. She was a teacher and literacy coach in public schools for 34 years and is the author of nine books, including Micro Mentor Texts (Scholastic). She is the founder and president of the Book Love Foundation, which annually grants classroom libraries to teachers throughout North America:

I write almost every day. Like anything I want to do well, I practice. Today, I wrote about the wild dancing, joyful energy, and precious time I spent with my daughter at a Taylor Swift concert. Then I circled back to notes on Larry’s question about teaching writers. I wrote badly, trying to find a through line. I followed detours and crossed out bad ideas. I stopped to think. I tried again. I lost faith in my words. I will get there , I told myself. I trust my process.

I haven’t always written this easily or this much. I wouldn’t say I’m a “natural” writer because I don’t believe they exist. Writing is work. When I entered college, I received a C-minus on my first paper. I was stunned. I had never worked at writing: I was a “first drafter,” an “only drafter.” And truthfully, I didn’t know how or what to practice. I was assigned writing in high school and I completed it. I rarely received feedback. I didn’t get better. I didn’t learn to think like a writer; I thought like a student.

I’ve now spent 40 years studying writing and teaching writers in kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, and high school, as well as teachers earning graduate degrees. Despite their age, writers in school share one remarkably similar trait: a lack of confidence. Confidence is a brilliant and fiery light; it draws your eyes, your heart, and your mind. But in fact, it is as rare as the Northern Lights. I feel its absence every fall in my composition courses.

We can change that.

Confidence blooms in classrooms focused on the growth of writers.

This happens in classrooms where the teacher relies less on lessons and more on a handful of practices. Unfortunately, though, in most classrooms, a heap of time is spent directing students to practice “writing-like” activities: restrictive templates for assignments, with detailed criteria focused on rules. Those activities handcuff writers. If you tell me what to do and how to do it, I will focus on either completing the task or avoiding it. That kind of writing work doesn’t require much thinking; it is merely labor.

Practice creating, on the other hand, is harder, but it is how we develop the important ability to let our ideas come and then shaping them into cohesive arguments, stories, poems, and observations. We have misunderstood the power of writing to create thinking. Likewise, we have misunderstood the limitations of narrow tasks. So, here are my best instructional practices that lead to confidence and growth in writers.

1. Writing Notebooks and Daily Revision. Writers need time to write. Think of it as a habit we begin to engage in with little effort, like serving a tennis ball from the baseline or dribbling a basketball or sewing buttonholes. Writers need daily time to whirl words, to spin ideas, to follow images that blink inside them as they move their pen across the page. In my classroom, writing time most often follows engagement with a poem.

Likewise, writers need guidance in rereading their first drafts of messy thinking. I’ve seen teachers open their notebooks and invite students to watch them shape sentences. They demonstrate how small revisions increase clarity and rhythm. Their students watch them find a focus and maintain it. Teachers show the effort and the joy of writing well.

Here’s an example: We listen to a beautiful poem such as “Montauk” by Sarah Kay, her tribute to growing up. Students write freely from lines or images that spring to them as they listen. I write in my notebook as students write in theirs for 4-5 minutes. Then I read my entry aloud, circling subjects and detours ( I don’t know why I wrote so much about my dog, but maybe I have more to say about this … ). I model how to find a focus. I invite students to do the same.

2. Writers Study Writing . Writers imitate structures, approaches, and ways of reaching readers. They read like writers to find possibilities: Look what the writer did here and here . A template essay can be an effective tool to write for a test, but thankfully, that is a very small and insignificant part of the whole of writing for any of us. Real writing grows from studying the work of other writers. We study sentences, passages, essays, and articles to understand how they work, as we create our own.

3. Writers Have Conversations as They Work . When writers practice the skills and embrace the challenges of writing in community, it expands possibilities. Every line read from a notebook carries the mark of a particular writer: the passion, the voice, the experiences, and the vulnerability of each individual. That kind of sharing drives process talk ( How did you think to write about that? Who do you imagine you are speaking to? ), which showcases the endless variation in writers and leads to “writerly thinking.” It shifts conversations from “right and wrong” to “how and why.”

Long ago, at a local elementary school, in a workshop for teachers, I watched Don Graves list on the chalkboard subjects he was considering writing about. He read over his list and chose one. From there, he wrote several sentences, talking aloud about the decisions he was making as a writer. Then he turned to accept and answer questions.

“Why do this?” someone asked.

“Because you are the most important writer in the room,” Don said. “You are showing students why anyone would write when they don’t have to.” He paused, then added, “If not you, who?”

Developing ‘Student Voice’

A former independent school English teacher and administrator, Stephanie Farley is a writer and educational consultant working with teachers and schools on issues of curriculum, assessment, instruction, SEL, and building relationships. Her book, Joyful Learning: Tools to Infuse Your 6-12 Classroom with Meaning, Relevance, and Fun is available from Routledge Eye on Education:

Teaching writing is my favorite part of being a teacher. It’s incredibly fun to talk about books with kids, but for me, it’s even more fun to witness students’ skills and confidence grow as they figure out how to use written language to communicate what they mean.

A lesson I used to like doing was in “voice.” My 8th graders had a hard time understanding what I meant when I asked them to consider “voice” in their writing. The best illustration I came up with was playing Taylor Swift’s song “Blank Space” for students. Some students groaned while others clapped. (Doesn’t this always happen when we play music for students? There’s no song that makes everyone happy!) But when they settled down, I encouraged them to listen to the style: the arrangement, her voice as she sang, the dominant instruments.

Then, I played a cover of “Blank Space” by Ryan Adams. Eyes rolled as the song unfurled through the speakers, but again I reminded students to listen to the arrangement, voice, and instruments. After about 60 seconds of the Adams version, heads nodded in understanding. When the music ended and I asked students to explain voice to me, they said it’s “making something your own … like your own style.” Yes!

The next step was applying this new understanding to their own writing. Students selected a favorite sentence from the books they were reading, then tried to write it in their own voice. We did this a few times, until everyone had competently translated Kwame Alexander into “Rosa-style” or Kelly Link into “Michael-style.” Finally, when it was time for students to write their own longer works—stories, personal essays, or narratives—they intentionally used the words and sentence patterns they had identified as their own voice.

I’m happy to report this method worked! In fact, it was highly effective. Students’ papers were more idiosyncratic, nuanced, and creative. The only change to this lesson I’d make now is trying to find a more zeitgeist-y song with the hope that the groans at the beginning die down a little faster.

Teaching ELLs

Irina McGrath, Ph.D., is an assistant principal at Newcomer Academy in the Jefferson County school district in Kentucky and the president of KYTESOL. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of Louisville, Indiana University Southeast, and Bellarmine University. She is a co-creator of the ELL2.0 site that offers free resources for teachers of English learners:

Reflecting on my experience of teaching writing to English learners, I have come to realize that writing can be daunting, especially when students are asked to write in English, a language they are learning to master. The most successful writing lessons I have taught were those that transformed the process into an enjoyable experience, fostering a sense of accomplishment and pride in my students.

To achieve this, I prioritized the establishment of a supportive learning environment. At the beginning of each school year, I set norms that emphasized the importance of writing for everyone, including myself as their teacher. I encouraged students to write in English and their native language and I wrote alongside my English learners to demonstrate that writing is a journey that requires hard work and dedication, regardless of age or previous writing experiences. By witnessing my own struggles, my students felt encouraged to persevere.

My English learners understood that errors were expected and that they were valuable opportunities for growth and improvement. This created a comfortable atmosphere where students felt more confident taking risks and experimenting with their writing. Rather than being discouraged by mistakes, they viewed them as steppingstones toward progress.

In my most effective writing lessons, I provided scaffolds such as sentence stems, sentence frames, and word banks. I also encouraged my students to use translation tools to help generate ideas on paper. These scaffolds empowered English learners to independently tackle more challenging writing assignments and nurtured their confidence in completing writing tasks. During writers’ circles, we discussed the hard work invested in each writing piece, shared our work, and celebrated each other’s success.

Furthermore, my most successful writing lessons integrated reading and writing. I taught my students to read like writers and utilized mentor texts to emulate the craft of established authors, which they could later apply to their own writing. Mentor texts, such as picture books, short stories, or articles, helped my students observe how professional writers use dialogue, sentence structure, and descriptive language to enhance their pieces.

Instead of overwhelming students with information, I broke down writing into meaningful segments and taught through mini lessons. For example, we analyzed the beginnings of various stories to examine story leads. Then, collaboratively, my students and I created several leads together. When they were ready, I encouraged them to craft their own leads and select the most appropriate one for their writing piece.

Ultimately, my most effective lessons were those in which I witnessed the joyful smiles on my English learners’ faces as they engaged with pages filled with written or typed words. It is during those moments that I knew my writers were creating and genuinely enjoying their work.

To access a self-checklist that students and EL teachers can use when teaching or creating a writing piece in English, you can visit the infographic at bit.ly/ABC_of_Writing .

‘Model Texts’

Anastasia M. Martinez is an English-language-development and AVID Excel teacher in Pittsburg, Calif.:

As a second-language learner, writing in English had not always been my suit. It was not until graduate school that I immersed myself in a vast array of journals, articles, and other academic works, which ultimately helped me find my academic voice and develop my writing style. Now, working as an ESL teacher with a diverse group of middle school multilingual learners, I always provide a model text relevant to a topic or prompt we are exploring.

When students have a model text, it gives them a starting point for their own writing and presents writing as less scary, where they get stuck on the first sentence and do not know how to start.

At the start of the lesson, prior to using a model text, I create a “do now” activity that guides my students’ attention to the topic and creates a relevant context for the text. After students share their ideas with a partner and then the class, we transition to our lesson objectives, and I introduce the model text. We first use prereading strategies to analyze the text, and students share what they notice based on the title, images, and a number of paragraphs. Then, depending on the students’ proficiency level, I read the text to the class, or students read the text as partners, thinking about what the text was mostly about.

After students read and share their ideas with partners and then the whole class, we transition to deconstructing the text. These multiple reengagements with the text help students become more familiar with it, as well as help students build reading fluency.

When deconstructing the model text, I guide my students through each paragraph and sentence. During that time, students orally share their ideas determining the meaning of specific paragraphs or sentences, which we later annotate in the model text using different colored highlighters or pens. Color coding helps visually guide students through similar parts of the model text. For instance, if we highlight evidence in paragraph 2 in one color, we also highlight evidence in the same color in the following paragraph. It helps students see the similarities between the paragraphs and discover the skeleton of the writing. Additionally, color coding helps students during their writing process and revision. Students can check if they used all parts of the writing based on the colors.

Furthermore, one of the essential pieces during deconstructing model texts that I draw my students’ attention to is transition words and “big words,” or academic vocabulary. We usually box them in the text, and I question students about why the author used a particular word in the text. Later, when students do their own writing, they can integrate new vocabulary and transition words, which enhances their vocabulary and language skills.

As the next step, I invite students to co-create a similar piece of writing with a partner or independently using our model text as their guide. Later, our model text serves as a checklist for individual and partner revisions, which students could use to give each other feedback.

Model texts are an essential part of the writing process in any content-area class. As educators, we should embrace the importance of model texts, as they provide a solid foundation upon which students can develop their unique writing skills, tone, and voice.

Thanks to Penny, Stephanie, Irina, and Anastasia for contributing their thoughts!

Consider contributing a question to be answered in a future post. You can send one to me at [email protected] . When you send it in, let me know if I can use your real name if it’s selected or if you’d prefer remaining anonymous and have a pseudonym in mind.

You can also contact me on Twitter at @Larryferlazzo .

Just a reminder; you can subscribe and receive updates from this blog via email . And if you missed any of the highlights from the first 12 years of this blog, you can see a categorized list here .

The opinions expressed in Classroom Q&A With Larry Ferlazzo are strictly those of the author(s) and do not reflect the opinions or endorsement of Editorial Projects in Education, or any of its publications.

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Character Descriptions Lesson - Reading, Writing & Grammar Lesson with Activities!

Subject: English

Age range: 7-11

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

Last updated

6 September 2024

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This resource includes everything you need to teach children grades 3 to 6 how to write fantastic character descriptions. The resource is a PowerPoint presentation lesson complete with:

√ Learning objective √ Success criteria √ Starter and plenary activities √ Review of relevant prior learning √ Teaching input/ information slides √ Examples of good character descriptions & feature identification tasks √ Speaking, reading, writing and grammar tasks √ Explanations and examples of how to use each structural and language feature in your own character descriptions √ Differentiated consolidation tasks (3 levels) √ Whole class, paired, group and independent activities √ Feature checklists √ Writing inspiration

Learning Objective: To identify the features of and write my own character description

Success Criteria: I can read and understand a character description. I can identify the structural features of a character description (paragraphs, most obvious details described first, describes both appearance, personality and life details). I can identify the language features of a character description (fronted adverbials, powerful verbs, adjectives, adverbs, figurative language etc.) I can write my own character description. I can check my work against a feature checklist.

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Breaking Down the Writing Process with AI

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The instructional practices shared in this article are ideas for exploration, not requirements for any instructor. They were developed by Northwestern IT Teaching and Learning Technologies in partnership with the Provost’s Generative AI Advisory Committee . Please note:

• Accessing Copilot via your Northwestern credentials is the recommended path for accessing a generative AI tool. Questions about whether a risk assessment has been performed or an institutional contract exists for a specific AI tool can be directed to the Northwestern IT Information Security Office ( [email protected] ). Procurement of new AI tools should follow university processes and policies regarding licensing and third-party risk assessments.
• Output from large language models (LLMs) can include false or incorrect information. Verifying accuracy via other sources is a critical practice for instructors, students, and staff to engage in when using LLMs.

For students and instructors, the introduction of generative AI via chatbots like ChatGPT in late 2022 introduced significant and complex challenges to core aspects of teaching and learning in higher education. Currently, the Northwestern Office of the Provost supports instructors in choosing their own level in which to integrate generative AI into their courses and includes it in the University’s Principles Regarding Academic Integrity . For many, involving generative AI in skills like writing is, at best, an uncomfortable position. For some, exploring generative AI with their students or asking them to critique ChatGPT output has been a productive way to engage students in examining the impact it can have on their writing.

When we think about generative AI and writing, a great place to start is with this short video featuring Elizabeth Lenaghan , director of The Cook Family Writing Program and associate professor of instruction, where she reiterates the importance of teaching writing in the generative AI age via a process model. The Cook Family Writing Program has created specific resources on generative AI and writing , which are referenced throughout this article. This article looks at four distinct parts of the writing process and offers step-by-step instructions on how to incorporate generative AI in ways that can help grow students’ understanding of generative AI and their own writing skills.

Through the University’s Microsoft license, Northwestern students, faculty, and staff have access to Microsoft’s implementation of the GPT 4.0 large language model through Microsoft Copilot (available only through a smartphone app or internet browser). Access to Copilot is important because when you are signed in with your Northwestern account, any data you put into the chat is covered by Northwestern’s contract with Microsoft for data protection so that Microsoft does not use it for product improvement or to train their AI models. This is the closest interface to ChatGPT, but only provides data protections when signed in with a Northwestern Microsoft Account.

Growing Critical Generative AI Users  

As fall quarter starts, understanding the basics of how large language models work is critical for instructors and students, regardless of the extent to which you do or do not allow students to use generative AI in your class. We recommend watching and sharing the videos created by the Center for Advancing Safety of Machine Intelligence included below to build a common language and understanding with your students about how generative AI works and its potential impact when used in their writing. To use generative AI tools well, students need to employ critical thinking, information literacy, and writing skills.

Writing Activities  

Activity 1: brainstorming with generative ai  .

Description:

Many students find it challenging to select a topic to write about. AI can assist by suggesting and refining ideas, much like guidance from a friend or instructor.

• Without using generative AI, students brainstorm ideas related to a given topic, generating lists of ideas.
• Students review their lists to identify common themes and core concepts. For each core concept, they write a summary sentence explaining its significance.
• Students pick one summary to enter as a prompt in Copilot to explore new angles and extend their initial ideas. Be specific in the prompt about what kind of output you want to see. For example, "I am sharing an idea for an essay I will write. Give me a list of five points I should cover. Here's the idea: [Summary sentence]."
• Have students discuss these new perspectives in pairs, small groups, or larger group discussions to gain insights. (Source: Leon Furze )

AI Learning Objectives:

Students will:

• Generate and refine ideas and articulate core concepts.
• Use generative AI tools to enhance their understanding.
• Engage in discussion to develop critical thinking and communication skills.
• Begin to understand limits of generative AI LLM tools.

Additional Resource: Brainstorming with (and without AI)

Activity 2: Crafting Thesis Statements with AI  

A clear thesis statement is crucial in writing as it provides direction and focus, guiding the structure and content of the entire piece. While creating a thesis can be challenging, generative AI can assist by offering suggestions and alternatives to help refine and articulate a compelling argument.

• Students start by selecting a topic related to the course content that interests them.
• Students draft a thesis statement focusing on their main argument and its significance.
• Pair students to share their statements, providing feedback to each other on clarity, argument strength, and potential improvements, with constructive criticism and specific suggestions.
• Have students input their thesis statements into a generative AI tool using the prompt, "I wrote a thesis statement, and I want you to provide me with feedback on clarity, argument strength, and potential improvements to the statement. Here is my thesis statement: [THESIS STATEMENT]"
• Have students compare the AI's suggestions with their partner's feedback, noting any unique differences.
• Conclude with a class discussion on their experiences, exploring the value of human versus AI feedback in enhancing writing. (Source: Crystal Camargo)
• Refine their thesis statements by integrating feedback from peers and generative AI.
• Improve their ability to critically evaluate and enhance their arguments.

Additional Resource : Creating a Thesis statement with (and without AI)

Activity 3: Reverse Outlining with AI  

Outlining is a critical step in the writing process that helps students understand the structure and flow of their work. By using a reverse outline with traditional outlining methods and generative AI tools, students can ensure that each paragraph contributes effectively to the overall argument.

• Students select one of their own previously written papers or essays and review it to understand its main points and overall structure.
• Students create a reverse outline by condensing each paragraph into a brief statement capturing its main idea, considering how it contributes to the paper's overall argument or narrative.
• Next, students use a generative AI tool to produce a reverse outline of the same paper and compare it with their own to discover any differences or similarities. Use the prompt, “Create a reverse outline of this document that includes a one- to two- sentence summary of each paragraph. Each summary should include the main idea of the paragraph and how it contributes to the paper's overall argument or narrative. Here is the document: [DOCUMENT TEXT]"
• Encourage reflection on whether the AI highlights points they missed or suggests a different structure and how both outlines align or not with the original intentions for their paper.
• Facilitate a class discussion where students share insights gained. (Source: Ohio College Teaching Consortium )
• Use AI tools to create reverse outlines of their work, comparing AI interpretations with their own.
• Improve their understanding of structure and clarity in writing.

Additional Resource: Outlining with (and without AI)

Activity 4: Draft Feedback with AI Integration  

Students can utilize AI to "read" their draft and receive feedback on missing components, potential counterarguments, and structural improvements.

• Ask students to bring a draft of a paragraph or two to class for feedback.
• Students exchange drafts in small groups, providing and receiving peer feedback focused on structure, clarity, and argument strength.
• Students input their draft into Copilot to receive additional feedback.
• Students compare Copilot’s suggestions with the feedback they received from peers and the instructor.
• After reviewing insights from all sources, students can develop a revision plan.
• Conclude with a class discussion on how AI can complement traditional feedback methods, enhancing students' understanding of their strengths and areas for improvements.

(Source: Ethan Mollick and Lilach Mollick )

• Integrate feedback from peers, instructors, and generative AI to improve their writing.
• Enhance clarity, coherence, and argument strength in their drafts.
• Understand the role of AI in the feedback process.

Final Thoughts  

When exploring generative AI in your courses, keep the generative AI portion opt-in and share with students how they complete the activity without using generative AI. No matter if or how you utilize generative AI in your course, be explicit with your students about your policies and expectations.

Connect with your community through colleagues, Northwestern writing experts , or request a consultation to talk through any questions you have about using generative AI in the writing process.

Videos to Share with Students     This video describes how LLMs use predictions to create output and how hallucinations can occur.         This video outlines what’s happening when it looks like LLMs are “thinking.”  From Northwestern Center for Advancing Safety of Machine Intelligence .

Continue Exploring this Topic

• Generative AI and Teaching for Fall 2024
• Generative AI on Your Terms: Data and Privacy 101
• AI Study Buddy

The 2 teens and 2 teachers killed in the Georgia school shooting leave behind a trail of grief

The four victims of the latest mass shooting at a U.S. school were two teenage students and two teachers.

Christian Angulo and Mason Schermerhorn, both 14, were killed Wednesday at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia.

Richard Aspinwall and Cristina Irimie were both math teachers at the school. Aspinwall was also an assistant football coach.

They all died at the hands of a troubled student, who was also 14 and armed with a clone of the AR-15 semiautomatic rifle that has been used in numerous deadly school shootings across America, authorities said.

As Winder, a town of 18,000 about an hour's drive from Atlanta, braced for a round of funerals, portraits began to emerge of the four victims who died in what was supposed to be a safe space.

“Those that are deceased are heroes in my book,” Chris Hosey, director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, said after their bodies were identified.

Christian Angulo

His family was plunged into grief after it was revealed that he was one of two students who had been fatally shot.

“He was only 14 years old. He was a very good kid and very sweet and so caring,” said Angulo’s older sister, Lisette, who set up a GoFundMe page for her brother. “He was so loved by many. His loss was so sudden and unexpected. We are truly heartbroken. He really didn’t deserve this.”

Mason Schermerhorn

Friends of his mother told The New York Times that the teenager had recently started at Apalachee and was looking forward to an upcoming vacation at Walt Disney World.

“He really enjoyed life,” Doug Kilburn, 40, a friend who has known Schermerhorn’s mother for a decade, told the newspaper. “He always had an upbeat attitude about everything.”

Lilianah Ahmed, who identified herself as Schermerhorn’s sister, wrote in an Instagram post that her brother “did not make it out of the school alive,” "T ODAY " reported .

In a since-deleted post, Ahmed also wrote that her brother had autism, "TODAY" reported.

Cristina Irimie

One of the slain math teachers, Irimie, 53, was a member of the Romanian immigrant community in the Atlanta area.

"She dedicated her life to shaping the minds and hearts of students and the community," family friend Corneliu Caprar wrote on the G o F und M e page he organized to raise money for her funeral.

Caprar's appeal for donations was written in both English and Romanian and featured a photo of Irimie with a garland of flowers in her hair.

Her friend, Silvia Pasch, 65, said they met about seven years ago at Saints Constantine and Helen Church outside Atlanta, where they sometimes volunteered and helped raise money for the church.

“I can’t explain the sadness, thinking how I’m not going to see her anymore,” she said.

Pasch remembers her friend gathering children from the church to organize a folk dance at a festival earlier this year.

“The shooting is a tragedy,” Pasch said. “She was a special person. Anytime she could help, she would.”

Richard Aspinwall

In addition to being a math teacher, Aspinwall was a 39-year-old married father of two daughters and the defensive coordinator of the Apalachee Wildcats football team.

Ariel Bowling, a 15-year-old student at Apalachee High School, said on " TODAY " that Aspinwall was her math teacher and the “most kindest soul ever.”

“I would just want people to know that he was a really kindhearted man, and he would really push you and he was just really hard-working,” Bowling said.

John Poitevint, head football coach at Mountain View High School in nearby Gwinnett County, said Aspinwall coached special teams and defensive backs on his staff for three years until 2022. He said they last spoke two week ago.

“He was a tremendous person, he put himself last,” Poitevint said. “He was very humble. You knew if you ever needed help, he’d be there for you.”

Poitevint said he found out about the shooting not long after it happened and tried calling Aspinwall.

“I was just hoping everyone was OK, and never thought it would’ve been him, to be honest,” Poitevint said. “I kept trying to reach Ricky, but obviously, I didn’t hear anything back. He was my right-hand man."

On Thursday, Robert McCrimmon and Jaden Hunter, 17-year-old seniors, each carried a bouquet of flowers to the school’s flagpole, where students and community members memorialized their fallen classmates and teachers.

McCrimmon, who mentioned that authorities knew of a previous threat made by the alleged shooter, said that “if precautionary things had been done, we wouldn’t be here and in this pain.”

Hunter said people were traumatized.

“I don’t know if I can go back into the school,” she said. “Right now, I don’t want to. It’s very sad because it seems like it could have been prevented if you knew he had said he would do something like this.”

Deon J. Hampton is a national reporter for NBC News.

Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital.

An official website of the United States government

Teacher (English)

About the Position: This position is located within the Pacific South School District in Okinawa, Japan at Kubaski High School.

• Accepting applications

Open & closing dates

09/04/2024 to 09/13/2024

$54,010 - $109,160 per year

Pay scale & grade

• Camp Foster, Japan 1 vacancy

Telework eligible

Travel required.

Not required

Relocation expenses reimbursed

Appointment type.

Multiple Appointment Types

Work schedule

Part-time - 40 hours per pay period

Promotion potential

Job family (series).

• 1701 General Education And Training

Supervisory status

Security clearance.

Not Required

Position sensitivity and risk

Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Trust determination process

• Suitability/Fitness

Financial disclosure

Bargaining unit status, announcement number.

NC7X242810321195

Control number

This job is open to.

Family members of a federal employee or uniformed service member who is or was, working overseas.

U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

• Promotes an understanding of the characteristics and needs of advanced learners.
• Uses appropriate instructional strategies for students receiving appropriate levels of service within the regular classroom and/or resource classroom.
• Participates in the student referral, and in assessment procedures.
• Consults with parents, teachers, students and administrators and the community on advanced academic programs and services.
• Maintains awareness of student progress through using formative and summative assessment results that inform practice.

Requirements

Conditions of employment.

• Male applicants born after December 31, 1959, must complete a Pre-Employment Certification Statement for Selective Service Requirement.
• Proof of U.S. Citizenship required.
• Direct deposit of pay is required.
• Two-year trial period may be required.
• Appointment subject to a suitability/fitness determination, as determined by a background investigation.
• This position requires a Tier 1 (T1) investigation with Childcare Checks since its duties require interaction with children and youth under the age of eighteen (18) years of age.

Qualifications

IMPORTANT INFORMATION : If you are interested in applying, please follow this link: https://webapps.dodea.edu/eas/login.cfm DO NOT apply via USAJOBS In order to qualify, you must meet the requirements described below. 0310 Teacher (English): A major in English or a minimum of 30 semester hours in English. A maximum of 5 semester hours in speech and/or journalism may be counted toward meeting this requirement. Course work must include English literature, American literature, the teaching of composition (writing process), and a minimum of 12 semester hours in upper-level English courses. State or Territory Certification/License - Effective January 2009, DoDEA changed its business process for rating professional teacher applications. Minimum Academic Preparation and Requirements and Information, to include State endorsements (as DoDEA determines comparable to DoDEA's teacher categories), official transcripts reflecting 50%, (12/24 or 15/30 semester hours) of the course work in the content area, AND professional teacher education (9/18 semester hours), must be considered with each position, where applicable. Student Teaching or an Internship - Student teaching or an internship as part of an approved teacher education program in an accredited U.S. institution is required. In the absence of an approved student teaching or internship program, applicants may be given credit for one year of successful full-time employment as an educator. Since that one year of employment substitutes for a course, no credit may be given for pay purposes. (Note: Speech Language Pathologists, Social Workers, School Nurses, Guidance Counselors, School Psychologists, JROTC Instructors and non-certified Training Instructors are excluded from the student teaching requirement.) Testing Requirements - Applicants must submit proof of achieving DoDEA's minimum scores for the required PRAXIS tests. Please note that DoDEA has adopted NEW test names and qualifying scores for PRAXIS I. There is no change in requirements for PRAXIS II and both PRAXIS I and PRAXIS II must be met.

Foreign Degrees and Course Work from Non-accredited Institutions . Foreign Degrees and Course Work from Non-accredited Institutions. Credits or degrees earned from a foreign college or university must be evaluated prior to acceptance. Three evaluation procedures are acceptable:

a. The work must be evaluated and interpreted by a current member of National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) . This website provides a list of current organizations who can perform your evaluation. You must select and work directly with one of these organizations.

b. The foreign institution that awarded the degree is on a list endorsed by a regionally accredited university or on a list endorsed by a state department of education for the purpose of teacher certification in that state (this procedure will require an English translation of the transcript and a copy of the document awarding the degree, together with an authenticated list produced by an American university or a state department of education); and

c. The work may be evaluated by the graduate division of a regionally accredited university and declared the equivalent of similar undergraduate or graduate work in a U.S. institution.

Graduates of non-accredited institutions may have their undergraduate work validated by admittance to graduate school and completion of a minimum of 5 SH of credit in a regionally accredited graduate college. Failure to provide all the required information as stated in the vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

Additional information

DoDEA Employment Application System (EAS) - To apply go to: https://webapps.dodea.edu/eas/ EAS allows educators seeking employment with the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) the ability to submit and manage their applications in an online environment. EAS provides the applicant the ability to update their information each year. All DoDEA educator applicants may view their applications online and make changes to their application at any time. To view your application: View application: https://webapps.dodea.edu/eas/ - Once there, log on as a returning user (not as a new applicant) with your username and password. - Username - your last name and last 4 digits of your social security number, e.g. smith0000 - Password - whatever you chose (if you forgot your password, you can click on "Forgot Your Password" on the login screen under returning user). The following documents must be uploaded to your online EAS application. You must submit all required documents; otherwise, your application will be considered incomplete. 1. Online EAS application - Required 2. Transcripts - Required 3. Copy of State or Territory Certification/License or DoDEA License 4. Eligibility documentation (Sponsor PCS Orders, SF-50, DD-214, etc.) - If applicable to you (Eligibility documentation may contain: Copy of latest SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, if applicant has current or previous Federal civil service experience. *Photocopy of all OFFICIAL college/university transcripts (front and back). To receive the maximum allowable credit, you must include all transcripts (front and back) for each degree earned to include any additional courses currently in progress. Any transcripts submitted that are not in English or not official will be removed from the application and will not be considered. (Transcripts must be in English). Applicants claiming 5-point veteran's preference must submit a copy of DD-214 (copy member 4), Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty. Applicants claiming 10-point veteran's preference must submit DD-214 and Standard Form 15, form available online under forms at http://www.opm.gov/Forms/pdf_fill/SF15.pdf). Application for 10-Point Preference, as well as the required documentation indicated on the SF-15. Lack of supporting documentation will result in the agency's inability to recognize veteran status for this announcement.

• Note: Applicants may not be considered or rated if they do not submit all of the forms indicated above and failure to submit the required forms will not be a basis for subsequent appeal or grievance.

Review our benefits

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Once your complete application is received (via EAS) and the announcement has closed, we will conduct an evaluation of your qualifications and determine your ranking. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interview as vacancies occur.

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

• Online EAS application
• Official Transcripts
• State Teaching Certificate
• If applicable to you (Eligibility documentation may contain: Copy of latest SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, if applicant has current or previous Federal civil service experience.)

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education .

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

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You will receive consideration for this vacancy for school year 2024/2025.

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

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This job originated on www.usajobs.gov . For the full announcement and to apply, visit www.usajobs.gov/job/807272200 . Only resumes submitted according to the instructions on the job announcement listed at www.usajobs.gov will be considered.

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Department of Defense Education Activity

Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), as one of only two Federally-operated school systems, is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing prekindergarten through 12th grade educational programs on behalf of the Department of Defense (DoD). DoDEA is globally positioned, operating 160 accredited schools in 8 districts located in 11 foreign countries, 7 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. DoDEA employs approximately 15,000 employees who serve more than 72,000 children of active duty military and DoD civilian families. DoDEA is committed to ensuring that all school-aged children of military families are provided a world-class education that prepares them for postsecondary education and/or career success and to be leading contributors in their communities as well as in our 21st century globalized society.

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The Sydney Morning Herald

Knox grammar teacher allegedly asked teen if they felt ‘hot’, by matt o'sullivan, save articles for later.

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A teacher at Sydney’s prestigious Knox Grammar accused of online grooming allegedly asked a 15-year-old whether they felt “hot” that they were as old as some of his students.

William Roberto Gulson was granted bail under strict conditions in the Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday after appearing via video link from the Surry Hills Police Centre.

Knox teacher William Gulson has been charged with child grooming.

The 27-year-old English teacher was charged on Friday with one count of procuring or grooming a child under 16 for unlawful sexual activity.

Court papers listed the details of the offence as procuring a 15-year-old child for unlawful sexual activity between August 25 and 27 at Wahroonga.

The prosecutor said there was an “extremely strong case” against Gulson, who faced up to 12 years’ imprisonment if convicted of the charge.

The court heard that Gulson allegedly contacted a year 9 student who was 15, telling them: “Sorry dude, I feel super conflicted. Do you feel it hot that you are as old as some of my students?”

Gulson, who appeared in handcuffs and wearing a green shirt bearing an emblem, was supported by his mother and brother at court during the hearing.

In opposing bail, the prosecution said there were “very real concerns” for the safety of the community.

However, legal aid solicitor Ned Gilson said Gulson did not have a criminal history and the accused would be vulnerable if he was remanded in custody, adding that he would face a relatively long period in remand.

The solicitor said that the circumstances of the alleged offence were “effectively a form of vigilantism” and “entrapment” by the community.

He proposed a series of bail conditions, including that Gulson reside at his mother’s home in Wahroonga.

In granting bail, the magistrate placed conditions on Gulson that prevent him from accessing dating apps or social media or contacting anyone under 18.

Gulson is also prevented from loitering near Knox Grammar, and has to give police the PIN of his mobile phone so that officers can access it where necessary. He has to surrender his passport within 48 hours and is prevented from entering international airports.

In a letter on Friday to parents at the north shore private school, Knox Grammar headmaster Scott James said the “alleged exchange occurred outside school hours and premises and did not involve any school IT equipment”.

“When this was brought to our attention, the teacher concerned was immediately removed from the school and his employment was terminated,” James said.

“Police have informed us that there is no other individual at risk and that there is no evidence that this behaviour extended beyond the online environment.”

According to Gulson’s LinkedIn profile, he was a former student of Knox, graduating in 2014.

He has held a number of roles at Knox, including as a drama and English teacher and a year 7 mentor. In 2023, he received a “Living Our Values” award from the Knox Grammar School Council.

Gulson will next appear in court at Hornsby on September 25.

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