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

"Contains information that is vitally important for the success of any classroom." —Julie Duford, Fifth-Grade Teacher Polson Middle School, MT "Gives teachers a format that we can develop into a philosophy or goal for our classrooms so our students become enthusiastic about learning." —Debbie Halcomb, Fourth-Grade Teacher Robert W. Combs Elementary, Cornettsville, KY "Takes Gardner, Covey, Tomlinson, and wraps them all together in a very motivating approach." —Karen Kersey, Second-Grade Teacher Albans Elementary, St. Albans, WV Embrace quality as the number one priority in your classroom! Inspirational and practical, this book focuses on the quality of teaching and learning in elementary and middle school classrooms and helps teachers and students find more joy, satisfaction, and meaning in their work. Experienced teacher Steve Reifman defines a quality classroom in reader-friendly terms, explains how to measure quality, and covers the conditions under which all students are empowered to reach their full potential. The author synthesizes key concepts from the fields of education, psychology, management, and personal growth to arrive at the eight essential elements of teaching, including realistic goal setting, assessment-oriented instruction, parent involvement, and teacher leadership. Written in a personal, engaging voice and drawing upon the work of experts such as Stephen Covey, Howard Gardner, Ted Sizer, William Glasser, Carol Ann Tomlinson, Alfie Kohn, and Alan Blankstein, this resource Promotes student motivation and a classroom environment of trust and respect Builds higher-level thinking and group problem solving into the curriculum Presents classroom applications, examples, anecdotes, and reproducible pages Features ideas from practicing teachers for putting these essential ideas to work in the classroom Eight Essentials for Empowered Teaching and Learning, K–8 motivates student teachers, beginning teachers, and veteran educators to become the most effective instructors they can be and achieve the best learning outcomes possible for their students.

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

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.

Review :
"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." "Takes Gardner, Covey, Tomlinson, and wraps them all together in an approach that I find very motivating." "Contains information that is vitally important for the success of any classroom." "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."