1. Thursday, February 19,2015 Good Morning Graph Makers, WELCOME! Today, we will meet, greet and find out about one another. We will learn about the Responsive Classroom initiative that we have started this year! One thing that we all have in common is having children attend Westbrook Elementary. Today we will make a bar graph by graphing the grades our children are in. Please take a sticker and put it on the chart to let us know what grade(s) your child(ren) are in. Then, write your name at the bottom of the chart.

2. Responsive Classroom Parent Coffee – February 19, 2015

3. What is Responsive Classroom? Social Emotional Learning Effective Teacher Language Encourages engagement by giving students meaningful choices Sets a positive tone for learning Establishes routines that promote autonomy and independence Builds a sense of community and shared purpose

4. Teaches skills: critical thinking, problem solving, communication, collaboration, and creativity Models routine behaviors (interactive modeling)

5. Morning Meetings Allow us to greet one another, listen, and respond to each other’s news Help us to see who is present/absent Allows us to take a reading of how classmates are feeling See the events of the day Allows us to begin each day as a community of caring and respectful learners

6. Morning Message Purpose: Builds community through shared written information Written message to welcome and greet students each day Reinforce academic skills in a meaningful, interactive way Heighten enthusiasm about what they will be learning that day Ease transition to the rest of their day Topics: Current events Predictions Field trip/special activity Favorites

7. Teacher Language Reinforcing, Redirecting and Reminding Language Name concrete, specific behaviors Direct and brief-focusing on the action Emphasize description over approval Avoid naming individuals as examples for others Encourage open ended questions “It’s time for recess. What should you do before you go out?” “Think about how you will help one another when it is time to cleanup.” “I noticed people helping one another with this activity. What are some other things you noticed that made this activity go well?” “It’s time to listen.” “When would be good times to ask for help?”

8. Energizers Purpose: To incorporate some movement in the classroom between activities/subject areas. Provide brain/body breaks. GROUP Energizer: Shark Attack Baby Shark (thumb and pointer finger open and close) Mama Shark (both hands resembling jaws) Papa Shark (large hand motions resembling jaws) Surfer Dude (surfing motion) Saw a shark (hand on forehead looking for the shark) Shark Attack (hands up in panicked motion) Swam Away (swimming motions) Where’s my board? (hands up showing confusion) Surfin’ Shark (hand up on forehead combined with surfing motions)

9. C of C and Responsive Classroom Use of morning meetings and teacher language encourages a sense of belonging; a sense of community. A fundamental basis of responsive classroom is to value respect, cooperation and empathy. Within the classroom, students get to know one another as individuals. The daily sharing encourages classmates to see similarities and differences with one another and to foster an environment of caring, trust, and respect.