- Steinert High School - East
- Parent/Guardian Information
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Welcome parents and guardians!
I have created this page with some basic resources for you, such as recommended reading and links that I think you may find interesting and helpful. Email is always the easiest way to contact me, so feel free to email me with any questions.
Over the years, I have found that there really are only three basic expectations that matter: be present, take ownership, and respect the people in the space (even if it is a digital space). I encourage my students to be present by participating when they can and take ownership of their work by asking questions, keeping up on assignments, and asking for help when they need it. Finally, I expect they will treat each other with the same respect they would want to be treated with. They are not required to agree, but they are expected to be constructive in voicing what they disagree about. It is extremely important that everyone feels comfortable enough to participate in discussion without judgment, whether it is in a Meet or in the classroom.
If at any time you feel your student is struggling and you don't know how to help them, please let me know and I will help in any way I can. Many families, both of students and other teachers, are still dealing with the effects the pandemic has had on our lives and adjusting to a new normal. Many have also had to deal with trauma and loss as well. If there is something I can help your student with, please feel free to email me at ddepalma@htsdnj.org. If you would prefer, we can arrange a Google meet which you can join either with your device or your phone. I have created a Parent Meeting Request Form for this purpose.
Thank you for visiting,
Mrs. DePalma, ddepalma@htsdnj.org
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Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
by James Clear Year Published: 2018"No matter your goals, Atomic Habits offers a proven framework for improving--every day. James Clear, one of the world's leading experts on habit formation, reveals practical strategies that will teach you exactly how to form good habits, break bad ones, and master the tiny behaviors that lead to remarkable results." - Google Books
Organizing from the Inside Out
by Julie Morgenstern Year Published: 2004From Amazon: Getting organized is a skill that anyone can learn, and there's no better teacher than America's organizing queen, Julie Morgenstern, as hundreds of thousands of readers have learned. Drawing on her years of experience as a professional organizer, Morgenstern outlines a simple organizing plan that starts with understanding your individual goals, natural habits, and psychological needs, so that you can work with your priorities and personality rather than against them. The basic steps-Analyze, Strategize, Attack-can be applied to any space or situation.
Organizing from the Inside Out for Teens
by Julie Morgenstern and Jessi Morgenstern Year Published: 2002From Amazon:
Jessi Says
What's My Payoff?
My bedroom is my home base and keeping it organized is a must. If my room isn't in solid condition, it's difficult to keep the rest of my life on track. Here are some other reasons that motivate me to keep my room organized:
- My room is the only space on the entire planet that is solely mine.
- My organized room allows me to maximize my space and time.
- My room boosts my confidence.
- My room gives others (especially my mom!) confidence in me.
- Organizing my room allows me to do what I want, when I want.Time Management from the Inside Out
by Julie Morgenstern Year Published: 2004From Amazon:
Applying the groundbreaking from-the-inside-out approach that made Organizing from the Inside Out a New York Times bestseller, Julie Morgenstern set a new standard for the time- management category. Her system has helped countless readers uncover their psychological stumbling blocks and strengths, and develop a time-management system that suits their individual needs.
By applying her proven three-step program-Analyze, Strategize, Attack-and following her effective guidelines, readers will find more time for work, family, self-improvement, or whatever is most important to them. Time management is a learnable skill, and in this completely revised edition, Morgenstern provides the ultimate tools to combine, delegate, and eliminate unnecessary tasks; put technology to work; and stop procrastinating once and for all.
A Mind for Numbers
by Barbara Oakley Year Published: 2014From Amazon: Whether you are a student struggling to fulfill a math or science requirement, or you are embarking on a career change that requires a new skill set, A Mind for Numbers offers the tools you need to get a better grasp of that intimidating material. Engineering professor Barbara Oakley knows firsthand how it feels to struggle with math. She flunked her way through high school math and science courses, before enlisting in the army immediately after graduation. When she saw how her lack of mathematical and technical savvy severely limited her options—both to rise in the military and to explore other careers—she returned to school with a newfound determination to re-tool her brain to master the very subjects that had given her so much trouble throughout her entire life.
In A Mind for Numbers, Dr. Oakley lets us in on the secrets to learning effectively—secrets that even dedicated and successful students wish they’d known earlier. Contrary to popular belief, math requires creative, as well as analytical, thinking. Most people think that there’s only one way to do a problem, when in actuality, there are often a number of different solutions—you just need the creativity to see them. For example, there are more than three hundred different known proofs of the Pythagorean Theorem. In short, studying a problem in a laser-focused way until you reach a solution is not an effective way to learn. Rather, it involves taking the time to step away from a problem and allow the more relaxed and creative part of the brain to take over. The learning strategies in this book apply not only to math and science, but to any subject in which we struggle. We all have what it takes to excel in areas that don't seem to come naturally to us at first, and learning them does not have to be as painful as we might think!Smart but Scattered Teen
by Richard Guare, Peg Dawson, and Colin Guare Year Published: 2012Frm Amazon: If you're the parent of a "smart but scattered" teen, trying to help him or her grow into a self-sufficient, responsible adult may feel like a never-ending battle. Now you have an alternative to micromanaging, cajoling, or ineffective punishments. This positive guide provides a science-based program for promoting teens' independence by building their executive skills--the fundamental brain-based abilities needed to get organized, stay focused, and control impulses and emotions. Executive skills experts Drs. Richard Guare and Peg Dawson are joined by Colin Guare, a young adult who has successfully faced these issues himself. Learn step-by-step strategies to help your teen live up to his or her potential now and in the future--while making your relationship stronger. Helpful worksheets and forms can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size.