I am so excited about the release of Caltha Crowe’s new book, Sammy and His Behavior Problems: Stories and Strategies from a Teacher’s Year! When I got my advance copy, it was a very busy time, and I thought I’d just browse it. Instead, I was so drawn into the inspirational and moving story of Caltha’s remarkable relationship with one third grader—Sammy—that I read the whole thing in one sitting! … Caltha’s stories about avoiding power struggles with Sammy made me think of students I’ve taught over the years and of one student in particular [...]
“What I Learned from Sammy and His Behavior Problems”
Many of us are longing for spring, but it’s still February! It’s a great time to perk up your class with quick energizers sprinkled throughout the day. Here’s one called “Double This Double That”—especially fun for students in grades three through six.
Continue reading “Energizers! Double This Double That”
What are the ingredients for taking the Responsive Classroom approach schoolwide? What research supports the Responsive Classroom approach, and what connections does it have to other social-emotional learning initiatives? On March 12, in Mahwah, New Jersey, administrators and teacher leaders will spend a day exploring these topics at the Responsive Classroom Overview for Administrators workshop. [...]
Continue reading Overview of Responsive Classroom for Administrators
Have you noticed an age shift in your class now that it’s the middle of the year? It always seemed to me that when we’d come back from February vacation, my students had all grown an inch, seen some new movie that changed the lingo in the room, and were suddenly more mature, for better or worse. [...]
Continue reading “Do your students seem older?”
Are you ready to take an intermediate or advanced Responsive Classroom course, but don’t know how you’d pay for it? You could win a free spot at a week-long institute this summer by applying for the Ruth Sidney Charney Scholarship. [...]
Continue reading Apply now for the 2010 Charney Scholarship
Last week, I encouraged you to work energizers—quick breaks that get children moving, breathing, and having fun together—into your classroom day. … Now, for all of you who are getting hooked on using energizers, I thought I’d offer some tips for using them more successfully. [...]
Continue reading “Tips for Using Energizers”
We sent our newest book off to the printer yesterday, on schedule to arrive at our warehouse before the end of March. So far, the advance reviews have been great! … You can get a taste of Sammy and His Behavior Problems: Stories and Strategies from a Teacher’s Year by reading an excerpt in the February 2010 Responsive Classroom Newsletter, or by reading the first chapter online. [...]
Continue reading Sammy and His Behavior Problems, by Caltha Crowe
During the long winter months, when children may experience less physical activity and movement, try sprinkling in some energizers—quick breaks that get children moving, breathing, and having fun together—throughout the day. These much-needed physical and mental breaks can increase children’s motivation for learning, and can also make their learning more productive. [...]
Continue reading Energizers! Using Quick Movement Breaks in the Classroom
If you subscribe to the Responsive Classroom Newsletter, your copy of the February 2010 issue should arrive in your mailbox any day now. We’ve made some exciting changes — I hope you like them! … Here’s more about what’s changed [...]
Continue reading A New Look for the Responsive Classroom Newsletter
… I was pleased to see a New York Times article last week citing evidence about the positive changes that accrue from scheduling recess before lunch in elementary schools, since that is a practice that we’ve advocated for over twenty-five years now. [...]
Continue reading Recess Before Lunch
