Ralph J. Steinhauer Elementary School

Grades 5-6  •  Maple Shade, New Jersey

Ralph J. Steinhauer Elementary School has created student workshops that run throughout the year in order to help equip their students with the skills they need to react appropriately in social settings, adapt to family changes, and cope with academic difficulties. The workshops focus on developing positive character traits that will help students meet these challenges. In the fall, a form is sent home to parents requesting information about their child's academic, social, and emotional development. Based on the responses, student workshops are created to encompass a wide variety of topics of interest to parents and students. On a voluntary basis, interested parents and their children may register for any of the ten workshops, which include guidance in areas such as developing self-esteem, coping with divorce, and improving study skills. In these sessions, which occur during the school day, students explore their personal behaviors in problem situations through observation, role plays, group activities, questionnaires, and discussion groups. Afterwards, students are recognized at a celebration of their participation, and are encouraged to continue their growth through the creation of a goal sheet that will be monitored at home.