Eight Essentials for Empowered Teaching and Learning, K-8: Bringing Out the Best in Your Students

by Steve Reifman (Editor)

Overview

Inspirational and practical, this book presents applications to improve teaching quality in K–8 classrooms and helps teachers find greater meaning and satisfaction in their work.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781412954419
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	05/29/2008
Pages:	192
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 11.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Steve Reifman has been an elementary school teacher for more than 13 years. During that time, he has earned National Board Certification, traveled to Japan as a Fulbright Memorial Fund Scholar, and completed two master’s degrees. He has experience working with students in all of the elementary grades, and he has taught in both public and private schools. Currently, Reifman teaches third grade at Roosevelt Elementary School in Santa Monica, California.

Ever since reading William Glasser’s The Quality School at the beginning of his career, his primary interest has been in the field of quality control. Reifman has read extensively in this area, has created and led numerous professional development courses, and has attended many conferences and workshops. Specifically, the focus of his work in the classroom has involved defining quality in student-friendly terms, measuring it, and creating the conditions where all students are empowered to reach their full potential and appreciate the joy of learning.

Table of Contents

List of Figures
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Introduction
1. Essential 1: Establishing a Sense of Purpose
The Overall Aim
Class Mission Statement
The Seven Life Roles
Personal Mission Statements
Key Points From Essential 1
2. Essential 2: Determining Goals
What Is Quality?
Determining Student Goals
Key Points From Essential 2
Reflection Questions
3. Essential 3: Building Quality Into the Process
The Inspection Role Play
The Writing Process Example
Guiding Approaches
Disciplinary Understanding
The Funds of Knowledge Approach
Differentiated Instruction
Multiple Intelligences
Wrapping Up the Story Writing Example
Building Quality Into the Process: Other Examples
The Yearlong Perspective
A Single School Day
Individual Lessons
Key Points From Essential 3
Reflection Questions
4. Essential 4: Involving Parents
Nine Reasons to Make the Effort
Guiding Principles for Home-School Communication
Ways to Build and Maintain Relationships With Parents
Other Ways to Promote Working Together
Helping Parents Help Their Children
Back to School Night, Conferences, and Open House
Key Points From Essential 4
Reflection Questions
5. Essential 5: Improving Continuously
Improving Our Habits of Character
Academic Improvement at the Individual Level
Academic Improvement at the Team Level
Increasing Enthusiasm Throughout the Year
Continuous Process Improvement: The Personal Spelling List Example
Individual Improvement Projects
Our Development as Professional Educators
Key Points From Essential 5
Reflection Questions
6. Essential 6: Investing in Training
Key Points From Essential 6
Reflection Questions
7. Essential 7: Nurturing Intrinsic Motivation
Classroom Parallels
The Problems With Rewards
Coming to Grips With These Findings
A Different Approach
Nurturing Forces of Intrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic Motivation: A Summary
Key Points From Essential 7
Reflection Questions
8. Essential 8: Exercising Leadership
The Big Picture
Rounding Out the Leadership Skeleton
Conclusion
Key Points From Essential 8
Reflection Questions
Resource A: The Seven Life Roles
Resource B: Guiding Approaches
Resource C: Classroom Management Plan
Resource D: Using Student Handbooks
Notes
References
Index

Editorial Reviews

"The book has many fine qualities—chief among them is a very desirable structure for helping teachers organize and maintain classrooms in which students are likely to flourish. This book goes a long way toward helping teachers acquire that competence. "

C.M. Charles

"Contains information that is vitally important for the success of any classroom. "

Julie Duford

"Takes Gardner, Covey, Tomlinson, and wraps them all together in an approach that I find very motivating. "

Karen Kersey

"Gives us a format that we can develop into a philosophy or goal for our classrooms so our students become enthusiastic about learning. I could barely put this book down until I finished it. In fact, I am recommending it to my principal. "

Debbie Halcomb