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My name is Steve Reifman, and I am a National Board Certified elementary school teacher, author, and speaker in Santa Monica, CA.
SteveReifman.com is a resource for elementary school teachers and parents. My mission is to teach the whole child—empowering students to succeed academically, build strong character, learn valuable work habits and social skills, and take charge of their health and wellness.
Blog
Discover over 100 posts filled with teaching tips, links to YouTube videos, and other useful ideas and strategies for teaching the whole child.
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Teaching Resources
Explore these print books, e-books, courses, and other resources that offer effective, proven ideas and strategies that improve student learning.
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Chase Manning Mystery Series
Each book in this award-winning mystery series for kids 8-12 features a single-day, real-time thriller that takes place on an elementary school campus.
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Workshops
Looking for a presenter for your next conference or workshop? Check out these engaging, innovative sessions that address a wide variety of topics.
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An important part of holding students accountable for their learning involves making sure they complete the projects and activities that occurred while they were absent. Whenever my students miss a day (or more) of school, I write down all the work my students need to make up on a “While You Were Absent†sheet. I place this sheet on their desks, along with the books, papers, and other materials they will need in order to complete everything described on the sheet.
Elementary and middle schools typically schedule parent conferences in November, or roughly a third of the way into each new school year. I view these meetings as indispensable parts of the home-school connection, and I greatly value the quality time I can spend with each child and his or her family. During the conferences we work as a team to discuss areas of strength, address areas of need, solve problems, and set goals for the future. Because meeting individually with each family is so time-consuming for teachers, many schools do not schedule follow-up meetings later in the year to continue these conversations. Student-led Conferences offer teachers a wonderful way to extend and strengthen the home-school connection because when compared to traditional Parent Conferences, they require only a fraction of the work and the time and provide students with an incredible opportunity to take responsibility for their own learning.
The Teaching Tips will focus on the topic of Student-led Conferences for the next three weeks.
Week 1: Introducing Student-led Conferences
Week 2: Preparing for Student-led Conferences
Week 3: Using Student-led Conferences to Feature Specific Habits of Mind and Habits of Character
Using Student-led Conferences to Feature Specific Habits of Mind and Habits of Character
Elementary and middle schools typically schedule parent conferences in November, or roughly a third of the way into each new school year. I view these meetings as indispensable parts of the home-school connection, and I greatly value the quality time I can spend with each child and his or her family. During the conferences we work as a team to discuss areas of strength, address areas of need, solve problems, and set goals for the future. Because meeting individually with each family is so time-consuming for teachers, many schools do not schedule follow-up meetings later in the year to continue these conversations. Student-led Conferences offer teachers a wonderful way to extend and strengthen the home-school connection because when compared to traditional Parent Conferences, they require only a fraction of the work and the time and provide students with an incredible opportunity to take responsibility for their own learning.
The Teaching Tips will focus on the topic of Student-led Conferences for the next three weeks.
Week 1: Introducing Student-led Conferences
Week 2: Preparing for Student-led Conferences
Week 3: Using Student-led Conferences to Feature Specific Habits of Mind and Habits of Character
Preparing for Student-led Conferences
Elementary and middle schools typically schedule parent conferences in November, or roughly a third of the way into each new school year. I view these meetings as indispensable parts of the home-school connection, and I greatly value the quality time I can spend with each child and his or her family. During the conferences we work as a team to discuss areas of strength, address areas of need, solve problems, and set goals for the future. Because meeting individually with each family is so time-consuming for teachers, many schools do not schedule follow-up meetings later in the year to continue these conversations. Student-led Conferences offer teachers a wonderful way to extend and strengthen the home-school connection because when compared to traditional Parent Conferences, they require only a fraction of the work and the time and provide students with an incredible opportunity to take responsibility for their own learning.
The Teaching Tips will focus on the topic of Student-led Conferences for the next three weeks.
Week 1: Introducing Student-led Conferences
Week 2: Preparing for Student-led Conferences
Week 3: Using Student-led Conferences to Feature Specific Habits of Mind and Habits of Character
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