We offer 5 different week-long institutes: Responsive Classroom I, Responsive Classroom II, Responsive Classroom III, Literacy in a Responsive Classroom, and the Physical Education Institute. The cost for a section (12-25 participants) is $14,500, including expenses.

What the week will be like
Choosing the right level
Institute presenters
Certificate of attendance

What the week will be like

For experienced and new teachers alike, this will be a week of professional and personal growth. Throughout the week, you’ll find:

• Affirmation—of the good practices you’re already using
• Real solutions—for turning past classroom problems into future successes
• Camaraderie—with fellow educators as you share ideas and get support for your challenges.

You’ll benefit from an immersion experience. Your presenters won’t just talk about positive strategies. They’ll model them. After you see the modeling, you’ll have chances during the week to practice the strategies yourself.

You’ll be in a group of teachers who teach the same approximate grade as you. Your presenter will be experienced with that grade range. The classroom situations you discuss and the sample strategies you learn will all be geared for the grade you teach.

Choosing the right level

All our week-long institutes focus on helping elementary educators learn how to use the classroom practices at the heart of the Responsive Classroom approach. The courses build on each other, so K-6 educators who are new to the Responsive Classroom approach, or who are using some of the practices but have not taken RCI yet, should begin with Responsive Classroom I. 

Responsive Classroom I (RCI)
You'll learn about five of the fundamental practices of the Responsive Classroom approach: Morning Meeting, Rule Creation, Interactive Modeling, Positive Teacher Language, and Logical Consequences. This institute is a prerequisite for RCII, RCIII, and LIT.

Responsive Classroom II (RCII)  
You'll learn about Guided Discovery, Academic Choice, Classroom Organization, and Collaborative Problem Solving and deepen your understanding of Logical Consequences. Prerequisite: RCI (or PEI)

Responsive Classroom III (RCIII) 
You’ll focus on an issue you’re challenged by in your classroom or school area. Working with colleagues in a seminar format, you’ll explore ways to use Responsive Classroom strategies and practices to address your issue. Prerequisite: RCI (or PEI) and RCII

Literacy in a Responsive Classroom (LIT)
Apply Responsive Classroom strategies to the teaching of literacy. You will discover ways to engage children with a broad range of learning styles and histories in active literacy learning. Prerequisite: RCI (or PEI) More info (PDF)

Physical Education Institute (PEI) 
For those who want to extend the Responsive Classroom strategies to the playground and PE settings. In addition to learning about the classroom practices covered in RCI, you'll learn about structured recess and skillful play and get ideas for many games and activities.

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Institute presenters

All our presenters are experienced practitioners who know the classroom. PEI presenters are knowledgeable physical education teachers. Some of our presenters work full-time for NEFC, doing professional development work year-round. Others are classroom teachers who provide Responsive Classroom training in their own school or district while using the approach in their own classrooms. All our presenters have completed a rigorous certification program that includes learning to implement Responsive Classroom masterfully in a classroom setting and learning to teach Responsive Classroom principles and practices to adults.

Certificate of attendance

All participants who attend the full week-long institute receive a 30-hour certificate of attendance.

For more information about offering institutes in your school or district, please contact Allison Evans at 800-360-6332 ext. 143 or allison@responsiveclassroom.org.