Eight Essentials for Empowered Teaching and Learning, K-8

Bringing Out the Best in Your Students
Steve Reifman - Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District, CA
Eight Essentials for Empowered Teaching and Learning, K-8
May 2008 | 192 pages | Corwin
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ISBN: 9781452294353
Available from January 0001
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ISBN: 9781412954419
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Description

"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.

Contents

List of Figures

List of Figures

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Author

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 A: The Seven Life Roles

Resource B: Guiding Approaches

Resource B: Guiding Approaches

Resource C: Classroom Management Plan

Resource C: Classroom Management Plan

Resource D: Using Student Handbooks

Resource D: Using Student Handbooks

Notes

Notes

References

References

Index

Index

Description

"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.

Contents

List of Figures

List of Figures

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments

About the Author

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 A: The Seven Life Roles

Resource B: Guiding Approaches

Resource B: Guiding Approaches

Resource C: Classroom Management Plan

Resource C: Classroom Management Plan

Resource D: Using Student Handbooks

Resource D: Using Student Handbooks

Notes

Notes

References

References

Index

Index

SAGE Publishing Logo

Eight Essentials for Empowered Teaching and Learning, K-8

Bringing Out the Best in Your Students


May 2008 | 192 pages | Corwin

Format Published Date ISBN Price
Hardcover 27/02/2023 9781412954419 $88.95
Paperback 27/02/2023 9781412954426 $40.95
Lifetime 30/09/2024 9781452294353 $37.00

"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

Recent Product 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, Professor Emeritus, San Diego State University
"Takes Gardner, Covey, Tomlinson, and wraps them all together in an approach that I find very motivating."
Karen Kersey, Second-Grade Teacher, Albans Elementary, St. Albans, WV
"Contains information that is vitally important for the success of any classroom."
Julie Duford, Fifth-Grade Teacher, Polson Middle School, MT
"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, Fourth-Grade Teacher, Robert W. Combs Elementary, Cornettsville, KY

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