Responsive

I am excited to tell you about an approach I use with my students. It is called the Responsive Classroom approach. It has been used successfully by elementary teachers around the country for over twenty years to create learning environments where children thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

The Responsive Classroom approach was developed by classroom teachers. It emphasizes children to take care of themselves, each other and the school environment so that everyone can learn at his/her own best. You’ll notice our class paying attention to how students treat one another throughout the day. You’ll also see a strong emphasis on students setting goals for their own learning and taking responsibility for reaching those goals.

Guiding Principals

The Responsive Classroom approach is based on theories of how children learn and on the experiences of classroom teachers. There are seven basic principles of this approach:

• Learning social skills is as important as learning academic skills.
• How children learn is as important as what they learn: Process and content go hand in hand.
• Children gain knowledge most effectively through social interaction.
• To be successful academically and socially, children need to learn cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy and self-control.
• Knowing the children we teach-individually, culturally, and developmentally-is as important as the content we teach.
• How the adults at school work together is as important as how skillful each individual teacher is. Lasting change begins with the adult community.

Teaching Practices

The Responsive Classroom approach includes the following main parts. We will be using some or all of these practices in our classroom this year.

Morning Meeting

Children gather for 15 minutes or so every day to greet each other, share news, do a group activity and look forward to the day ahead. This daily routine builds community, creates positive climate for learning, and gives children practice in a wide range of academic and social skills.

Rules and Logical Consequences

The teacher and the children together create rules for the classroom that will allow everyone to do his/her best learning. When children break the rules, there are clear and non-punitive consequences that help them learn from their mistake. The approach teaches responsibility and control.

Guided Discovery

A structured way of discovering materials so that children become interested and motivated to use the materials.

Academic Choice

An approach to giving children some choices in their learning to help them become invested, self-motivated learners. Academic choice can be used to teach any subject.

Classroom Organization

Arranging materials, furniture and displays that encourage learning, care, positive social interaction, and independence in children.

Working Together With Parents

Ideas for involving parents as true partners in their children’s education.

Please let me know if you have any questions. It is my hope to give you more information on all of these ideas as the year progresses. I feel it is an invaluable approach that truly makes a difference. You can also learn more about the Responsive Classroom approach by visiting http://www.responsiveclassroom.org.