Ideas & inspiration from the developers of the Responsive Classroom approach
From the monthly archives:
Reflection and goal-setting are often a focus for adults in January, when the beginning of a new calendar year prompts us to think about what we’ve accomplished and what we hope to do next. You can bring this reflective , purposeful energy into your classroom by having your students revisit the hopes and dreams they chose at the beginning of the year.
Continue reading Revisiting Hopes and Dreams in the New Year
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I recently had an opportunity to view The Principal Story. This documentary, which aired on PBS earlier this fall, tells a poignant story about two elementary school leaders who turned around their under-performing urban schools. … The film follows each of the women for a year, highlighting the daily struggles that are faced by principals and teachers as they strive to create strong learning communities. [...]
Continue reading The Principal Story
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In the second article in her series on home-school connections, journalist Erin Richards looks at the issue of whether education schools should be doing more to prepare teachers for working with parents. She focuses on one teacher’s efforts to do so, and reading about him made me recollect about the many ways I’ve seen teachers reach out to parents. [...]
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We’re counting down the days until early January, when the Teacher Language Professional Development Kit will be in stock at our warehouse and ready to ship. (You can pre-order now and be one of the first to get it.)
Like the Morning Meeting Professional Development Kit, this multimedia kit contains everything a school-based facilitator needs to run an eight-session study group [...]
Continue reading A New Way to Learn about Teacher Language
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In this series, I’m focusing on how to use Morning Meeting to set a positive tone for the day during the build-up to winter holidays and vacation. Today’s tips are about Morning Meeting Messages and the last part of the meeting, reading the message together.
Continue reading Handling the Holidays, Part 5
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In this series, I’m focusing on how to use Morning Meeting to set a positive tone during the build-up to winter holidays and vacation. Today’s tips are about the third part, group activity.
Continue reading Handling the Holidays, Part 4
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In this series, I’m focusing on how to use Morning Meeting to set a positive tone in your classroom during the build-up to winter holidays and vacation. Today’s tips are about the second part, sharing. […]
Continue reading Handling the Holidays, Part 3
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In this series, I’m focusing on how to use Morning Meeting to set a positive tone in your classroom during the build-up to winter holidays and vacation. Today’s tips are about the first part, greeting. [...]
Continue reading Handling the Holidays, Part 2
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As the holidays swing into full gear, maintaining a productive and calm atmosphere in the classroom can be challenging. Students can be more fidgety, giggly, testy, and, tired at this time of year. In December, children are also often distracted by the excitement of home activities and by the stress that their parents and caregivers may be feeling. Furthermore, your classroom schedule may be disrupted by assemblies, class plays, and holiday lunches. … Morning Meeting can help. [...]
Continue reading Handling the Holidays, Part 1
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Looking for grants to support Responsive Classroom implementation at your school? Here’s one to check out: The Sprint Foundation’s Sprint Character Education Grant Program awards grants to school districts and individual schools to fund purchases that facilitate and encourage character education among K-12 students. We know of at least three schools and one district that received funding for Responsive Classroom training and materials through this program in 2009.
Continue reading Grants for Teacher Training and Materials
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