General Information

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. Tuition is $695, and registration for this summer has begun.

What the week will be like
Choosing the right level for you
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 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 for you

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.

Professional development credit

Participants in Responsive Classroom I (RCI), the Physical Education Institute (PEI), Responsive Classroom II (RCII), and Literacy in a Responsive Classroom (LIT) can opt to receive graduate-level elective professional development credit through Chapman University, 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. Coursework will be due in late October; grades will be available in early December 2008.

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.

The sign-up deadline for Chapman University professional development credit is September 1, 2008. 

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

For more information, 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 have an option to receive graduate credit through Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, VT. 

Please note: There is no graduate credit option for participants taking Literacy in a Responsive Classroom (LIT) or the Physical Education Institute (PEI).

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. Grades will be submitted in November.

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

The sign-up deadline for St. Michael’s graduate credit is August 8, 2008. Space is limited.

Registration form and assignment for RCI (Word)
Registration form and assignment for RCII (Word)

For more information, please contact Jay Lord at jay@responsiveclassroom.org or 800-360-6332 x 115.

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.

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 2009. More information

Questions?

If you have questions about week-long institutes please email us at registration@responsiveclassroom.org or call
800-360-6332 x 130.