General Information

This summer we are offering 3 different week-long institutes: Responsive Classroom I, Responsive Classroom II, and Responsive Classroom III at locations throughout the United States. Tuition for the week is $695.


What the week will be like
Choosing the right level
Daily schedule
Institute presenters
Certificate of attendance
Professional development credit
Graduate credit (Vermont only)
Funding sources
Hosting a Summer Institute

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 20 to 30 teachers who teach smilar grades. 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 and RCIII.

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

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 and RCII

—Back to top—
 

Institute presenters

All our presenters are experienced practitioners who know the classroom. 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.

Professional development credit

Participants in Responsive Classroom I (RCI) and Responsive Classroom II (RCII) can opt to receive graduate-level elective professional development credit through Chapman University College, located in Orange, CA.

Students will be awarded 3 semester graduate-level elective credits based on successful completion of the institute and additional course requirements, including classroom implementation and reading and writing assignments.

Please note: These credits are professional development units and are not part of a degree program. They are primarily used for professional advancement.

The registration fee for the professional development credit is $180. Participation in a Responsive Classroom week-long institute is required, and institute tuition does not include the credit registration fee.

Registration for Chapman University College professional development credit opens May 1 and closes September 1, 2009. Coursework will be accepted after September 1.

Click on a link to download:

Registration form only (PDF)

Course Packet, including registration form and assignments, for RCI (Word)

Course Packet, including registration form and assignments, for RCII (Word)

Completed work cover sheet (Word)

For more information about professional development credit options, please contact Sarah DiNicola at sarah@responsiveclassroom.org, or call her at 800-360-6332 x 134.

Graduate credit (Vermont institutes only)

Participants who take Responsive Classroom I (RCI) or Responsive Classroom II (RCII) in Vermont locations this summer have an option to receive graduate credit through Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, VT. 

Participants may earn 3 graduate credits for successful completion of the institute and the additional course requirements. Additional course requirements include classroom implementation and five written pieces which will receive feedback from readers experienced with Responsive Classroom strategies.

The registration fee for the graduate credit is $450. Participation in a Responsive Classroom week-long institute in Vermont this summer is required, and institute tuition does not include the credit registration fee.

Registration for this credit option has begun. You have until July 31, 2009 to sign up. The last of the five writing assignments is due by October 26; grades will be mailed later in November.

Click on a link to download:

Registration form for RCI [PDF]

Course Packet for RCI (includes registration form, syllabus, and assignments) [Word]

Registration form for RCII [PDF]

Course Packet for RCII (includes registration form, syllabus, and assignments) [Word]

Funding sources

Many schools use state, federal, and philanthropic funds for violence prevention, character education, and instructional improvement to pay for professional development in the Responsive Classroom approach. Learn more

Hosting a Summer Institute

Our week-long summer institutes are held at host site schools we select according to various criteria, including location and our space requirements. Host schools receive tuition credit for five participants. We are currently seeking host sites for summer 2010. More information