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In recent years, many middle school classrooms have shifted from using physical resources like textbooks and workbooks to digital learning platforms that students access with laptops or tablets. A digital curriculum provides a fantastic opportunity for rich explorations of content with embedded scaffolds and additional resources for extending learning; however,…

“Before you speak, listen.”  —William A. Ward   Listening With Purpose As I listen in on the student conversations occurring around the classroom, I notice that my students have a firm grasp on the basics of listening and speaking. They turn their attention toward the speaker and maintain a calm…

Location: Watertown, WI  Type of school: Public elementary school  Grade levels: Early childhood through fifth grade  Number of students: 315   A Responsive Classroom school since: 2018     Douglas Elementary is a public school in a rural part of Wisconsin that serves a diverse population of students, about half of whom…

Following the busy first weeks of school, teachers and students begin to settle into a familiar rhythm. Students have learned important routines and class expectations and are getting excited about new opportunities to explore academic content. With familiarity building among students, you may begin noticing social groups or cliques starting…

Albert Einstein once said that the value of education “is not the learning of many facts but the training of the mind to think something that cannot be learned from textbooks.” As educators, we strive to engage students, drawing on their knowledge and experiences so they can draw upon their…

I remember singing along with friends in my elementary school days. Teachers and students began each day with singing. We learned about music from our music teacher, but we sang everywhere—in our classrooms and on the playground. One winter, you could find us out at recess, climbing the snowbanks to…

Location: Minneapolis, MN  Type of school: Public charter school  Grade levels: K–8  Number of students: ~400   A Responsive Classroom school since: 2003     New City School has been a Responsive Classroom school since it opened its doors back in 2003. “It's always been a part of who we are,” explains…

Location: Bolingbrook, IL  Type of school: Public elementary school  Grade levels: K–5  Number of students: 730   A Responsive Classroom school since: 2018    In the summer of 2018, Beverly Skoff Elementary made two big changes to their approach to teaching: they enrolled their staff in the Responsive Classroom Elementary Core…

Location: Minneapolis, MN Type of school: Public charter school  Grade levels: K–8  Number of students: 373  A Responsive Classroom school since: 2014    Northeast College Prep is a tuition-free public charter school that serves a student body that is both diverse and disadvantaged—fourteen primary languages are spoken and 98% of…

Location: Brooklyn, NY Type of school: Private Catholic school  Grade levels: Pre-K–8  Number of students: 282   A Responsive Classroom school since: 2019    A few years ago, Saint Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy was facing a series of interrelated challenges. The school had experienced consistent leadership turnover—four principals in four…

An increase in wiggles and whispers or holes torn in papers from too much erasing can be important clues that your students are beginning to reach their individual or developmental limit for focus or endurance. Responsive Classroom teachers are always on the lookout for signs their students may be in…

Throughout the school year, there will be times when you will be absent. Whether your absence is planned or unexpected, prepare for these instances at the beginning of the school year by using the following structures. About the Term “Guest Teacher” Unlike the more common “substitute teacher,” this title conveys…

One of the most important predictors for students’ success in school, according to the nonprofit organization The Global Family Research Project, is family engagement (Weiss, Lopez, and Caspe 2018). So, while educators already know the importance of building positive relationships with students at the start of a new school year,…

It’s that time of year again! You’re in a classroom with a whole new group of students. In all the excitement and commotion, you might be eager to create a sense of order by establishing classroom rules. But before you do, it’s essential that you ensure your procedures are in…

In the Responsive Classroom approach, we often say that we start the year exploring hopes and dreams, or learning goals, with our students, but this exploration can only occur after we have established an initial rapport, a feeling of safety, and a sense of joy among our new class members.…

Starting the Year With Effective Teacher Language The skillful use of teacher language has the power to help create and maintain a positive, encouraging, and respectful classroom community, especially in those first weeks when there is so much to model, explain, and encourage! When we focus on using positive language,…

Responsive Advisory Meeting is a core component of the Responsive Classroom approach to middle school because it provides middle school students with the opportunity to explore new interests, practice new skills, and strengthen their social and emotional competencies, all while developing positive relationships with their peers and with a caring…

Morning Meeting is an effective way to start any day throughout the school year, but it is especially impactful at the beginning of the year when you are looking to build a strong sense of community with a new class of students. Whether you are interested in trying Morning Meeting…

There is such a sense of potential that comes with the freshly sharpened pencils, organized supplies, and stacks of books waiting to be handed out at the start of a new school year. But the strongest feeling of possibility by far comes from your list of new students. The best…

How do educators spend their summer break? If you’re anything like me, you’re spending your summer trying to balance relaxation, quality time with family and friends, personal goals, and maybe even some professional development. Whether I’m in relaxation mode or skimming a professional text, I regularly find myself drifting into…

The beginning of the school year is full of emotion for teachers and students alike. Some students embrace the new year with excitement and anticipation, while others cautiously enter it with questions or anxiety about what to expect. Of course, all students deserve to feel a sense of belonging, significance,…

“Students experience greater success in school when the adults who care for them and help them learn and grow have a collaborative relationship that allows them to welcome and value one another’s questions, ideas, and thoughts.”  — Jane Cofie, Strengthening the Parent-Teacher Partnership Although it is summer break, it is…

Logical consequences are a key practice in the Responsive Classroom approach to discipline. A logical consequence is a non-punitive response to misbehavior that allows teachers to set clear limits and students to fix and learn from their mistakes while maintaining their dignity. Depending on the child and the situation, teachers might…

Summer is a recharging station. It offers teachers a mental and physical break from the day-to-day routines and demands of teaching. While recharging, teachers begin to dream of and envision what the upcoming school year will offer in terms of growth—both for our students and ourselves. Here are a few…

Consider the energy and intensity that often accompany the middle of the day. Lunch and recess provide students with opportunities to run, play, eat, and socialize, and teachers often see this energy spilling over into the classroom as students reenter for the afternoon. They often run into the room, bumping…

Adolescence is a time of rapid change and growth. The brain undergoes major reorganization and bodies start to mature. Middle school students develop an awareness of and respect for other people’s points of view, feelings, and rights as their moral and ethical reasoning abilities increase. At the same time, the…