September 2009 The Responsive Classroom Approach

Teaching that emphasizes social, emotional and academic growth in a safe school community Consists of practical strategies for helping children build academic/social/emotional skills Guided by certain guiding principles and classroom practices

Responsive Classroom Guiding Principles To be successful academically and socially, children need a social skill set; C.A.R.E.S. Cooperation Assertion Responsibility Empathy Self-Control the greatest cognitive growth occurs through social interaction how children learn is as important as what they learn: process and content must be linked

Classroom Practices Morning Meeting: Demonstration Rule Creation Logical Consequences Interactive Modeling Positive Teacher Language Guided Discovery Academic Choice Classroom Organization Working with Families Collaborative Problem Solving

Interactive Modeling Describe behavior Demonstrate behavrior Ask what students noticied about that behavior Ask student volunteers to demonstrate the same behavior Ask what students noticed abou that behavriour Students practice and teacher observes and coaches.

Hopes and Dreams and Rules Teacher shares hopes and dreams Children share Generate rules together -that show respect and caring for self, others, environment Display rules, carry rules Tie the rules to hopes and dreams

Morning Meeting Greeting Sharing Group activity Morning message

Logical Consequences Respectful Relevant Realistic TYPES: You broke it, you fix it Loss of a privilege Positive Time Out

Positive Teacher Language Reinforcing language Reminding Language Redirecting language

Resources Respsonsiveclassroom.org Origins0nline.org

Next Steps/How to Implement Goal: To ensure that all staff adopt the Responsive Classroom approach and language throughout the building. This will further the consistency in climate and expectations between our classrooms and the school at large. Strategies: Formal book study group involves a group of classroom teachers Displays of Responsive Classroom information and terms throughout building Character Education program: Middle Hope Elementary “Super Citizens” Principal’s Advisory Committee Building – wide Morning Meeting Use of consistent expectations and hand signals at lunch/recess, assemblies Communication with parents: bulletin board, newsletters, website Meet and greet sessions with teachers during the summer