My name is Steve Goliff.  I live with my wife of 15 years, Emma, my daughter Valerie, 11, and son Kenny, 8.  Emma teaches a first/second grade split class this coming year in Kent, WA.  She just recently received her Doctorate degree in Education!  We were lucky enough to attend graduation ceremonies in Minneapolis, MN, in August.  It was very exciting to hear Senator Klobachar (MN) as well as Lili Ledbetter speak to the graduates.  Of course, most exciting, was hearing "Dr. Emma Louise Goliff"!

Valerie loves school, singing and dancing,writing scripts, and recording "web shows."  She acted in her eighth play in December 2008 as the lead character in her school's production of "Peter Pan."  Last school year she played the Caterpillar in "Alice in Wonderland."  She was Bagheera the panther in "Jungle Book" in the school productin in 2006.  In July 2006 she performed as "Kaa" in "Jungle Book" at the GRCC.  She also performed in “Pippi Longstocking” in June 2005.  Kenny enjoyed participating in zoo camp, tennis camp, and robot camp this summer.  He loves Pokemon, Transformers and Bionicles!  He is always looking to draw or build something!  Both participated in drama camp at Kentridge High School, performing songs from "Into the Woods."

At the beginning of August, we took our tent trailer to Deception Pass State Park for a few days.  Later in August, we spent a week in Iowa visiting grandparents.  While there, we build a caboose play structure, completing the four piece train.  From there, it was off to Minneapolis, MN for Emma's graduation ceremony. 

            I enjoyed coaching, along with Bill Hess and Mike Fettig, the fifth grade boys’ basketball team for six years.  Last year was my second as coach of the girls team.  It is a lot of fun teaching the basic skills and molding the kids into a team!  Unfortuantely, due to budget cuts, there will be no fifth grade basketball teams this year.  I look forward to when we can restart the program.

           This is my fifth year teaching 4th grade at Lea Hill after four years in third grade.  Prior to that, I taught for five years in Los Angeles, CA, in second and third grades and I worked as a substitute teacher for four years in grades Kindergarten through six.  

            In May 2005, I completed my Masters Degree in Education, with a focus on Integrating Technology in the Classroom.  Our class is lucky enough to have four student computers.  We will have a schedule that allows each student about 40 minutes of computer time in the class each week.  On Fridays, we will spend 45 minutes in the computer lab learning and practicing using computer programs.  We will practice using the Internet, Microsoft Word, and Power Point.  We will also work on opening and closing programs and saving documents.

            Throughout the classroom website are numerous links to websites that our students can access from any Internet connection.  They are all sites for students to explore that are related to topics of study in class.  It is updated occasionally throughout the school year, so keep checking back to see what's new. 

           I look forward to a successful school year for everyone!  Be sure to come by the class when you have a chance!