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Middle school is one of the most consequential stages of development. During these years, students are building the skills that shape how they make decisions, manage impulses, and regulate emotions. ...
Professional learning often comes with high hopes and significant investment, but its impact can fade if it is not connected to and integrated into daily practice. School leaders know that ...
A classroom filled with the work of children is a delight to be in and sends a message to students that their work and their learning are important. Although early in the school year, the teacher might do much of the display planning and caretaking, as the year progresses, students can take an increasingly active role in displaying their work. There are several ways in which children can be involved. They can simply choose pieces of their own work that they give to the teacher to assemble into a display.
In early 2018 I presented my first Responsive Classroom course at the American School of Bombay (ASB) in Mumbai, India. This independent day school follows a college preparatory curriculum that supports an ...
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First Weeks of SchoolJoyful ClassroomsMorning MeetingResponsive Advisory MeetingSpecial Times in the Year
No matter where in the year you are, when you’re feeling ready to start using the Responsive Classroom approach, that’s the right time to begin! But where do you start?
“It’s all about knowing your kids and what they need,” says Nicole Doner, Responsive Classroom consulting teacher.
Ensuring that all our students are academically engaged is our highest priority as educators. We want to teach our students the skills needed to creatively engage with content while becoming ...
Helping students get back on track when they are engaged in off-task or rule-breaking behavior is an important goal when responding to misbehavior. We want students to quickly get back ...
Does this sound familiar? You teach your students classroom routines at the beginning of the year and watch as they integrate these new routines into their learning, but for some ...
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Engaging AcademicsTeacher LanguageThe Language of Learning
Having productive conversations requires students to listen deeply, reflect on what is said, express ideas clearly, sustain attention, ask insightful questions, debate respectfully, and develop comprehension of information taken in. ...
The school year is in full swing: hopes and goals have been established, classroom and school expectations are in place, and learning is in high gear. Everything is off to ...
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First Weeks of SchoolInteractive ModelingReminding, Redirecting, and Reinforcing LanguageTeacher Language
It’s the start of a new year! Day one is either right around the corner or has just recently taken place. The beginning of the year is filled with so ...
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Academic ChoiceClassroom Management & DisciplineElementary SchoolProfessional Development and CommunityWhole School Community
Students come to ACS Cobham International School in England from all over the world. Some stay for their entire pre-collegiate school experience and others make a home there for just ...
By Maura MacDonald
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Classroom Management & DisciplineDisciplineDisciplineElementary SchoolHopes and DreamsPositive CommunitySEL SkillsTeacher Language
Taking proactive steps to build a strong learning community, with practices like positive teacher language, interactive modeling, and investing students in rules through Hopes and Dreams, does a lot to ...
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Interactive ModelingPositive Teacher LanguageTeacher LanguageThe Language of Learning
“As their teachers, we hold in our hearts our own hopes and dreams for [our students]. We want them to engage in academic rigor and to be ideamongers who contribute ...
By Maura MacDonald
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First Weeks of SchoolInteractive ModelingThe First Weeks of School
Each of these practices promotes active teaching over direct teaching: Rather than education being a one-way street in which a teacher lectures, learning becomes a collaboration between teacher and students. And if you’re looking for a way to get started with Responsive Classroom in your classroom, these practices are a great way to begin.
Telling students what they’re doing right is one of the most powerful tools we have for helping them solidify and build on their positive behaviors and skills—and teachers aren’t the only ones who can provide this type of support. Students can also encourage each other through the effective use of giving compliments.
“One of my jobs here at school is to help make sure that every single one of you can do your best learning every day.” As a school counselor, that’s ...