The Responsive Classroom
Western Salisbury Elementary
School community wants children to learn how to care for themselves, their fellow
students, their environment, and their work. Although academic success for all
students is critical, the school community wants more from their educational
efforts than higher test scores. All adults in the learning community at
Western help children succeed academically and socially using the philosophy of
The Responsive Classroom established by the Northeast Foundation for
Children.
All staff members in
the school teach children to be responsible, caring learners.
The Foundation is based
upon:
- Knowledge of child development
- Explicit teaching of social as well as academic
skills
- Facilitation of positive community membership
The Guiding Principles of
the Responsive Classroom include:
- The social curriculum is as important as the
academic curriculum
- How children learn is as important as what they
learn: process and content go hand in hand.
- The greatest cognitive growth occurs through
social interaction.
- There is a set of social skills children need in
order to be successful academically and socially: cooperation, assertion,
responsibility, empathy, and self-control.
- Knowing the children we teach- individually,
culturally, and developmentally- is as important as knowing the content we
teach.
- Knowing the families of the children we teach and
inviting their participation is essential to children’s education.
- How the adults at school work together is as
important as individual competence: lasting change begins with the adult
community.
The Teaching Practices of
the Responsive Classroom include:
· Morning Meeting: A daily routine that builds
community, creates a positive climate for learning, and reinforces academic and
social skills.
- Rules and Logical Consequences: A clear and
consistent approach to discipline that fosters responsibility and
self-control
- Classroom Organization: Strategies for arranging
materials, furniture, and displays to encourage independence, promote
caring, and maximize learning
- Guided Discovery: A format for introducing
materials that encourages inquiry, heightens interest, and teaches care of
the school environment
- Academic Choice: An approach to giving children
choices in their leaning that helps them become invested, self-motivated
learners.
- Family Communication Strategies: Ideas for involving
families as true partners in their children’s education
School Wide Themes Based
Upon the Principles of the Responsive Classroom include:
Life Is A Team Effort!
C.H.A.R.M. – Caring, Helpful, Appreciative, Respectful, Manners
QUALITIES OF THE MONTH
2005-2006
September – First six
weeks of school
October – Friendship
(Grade 2)
November – Effort
(Grade 4)
December – Caring
(Grade 1)
January –
Responsibility (Grade 5)
February –
Honesty (Grade 3)
March – Respect (Barb
J. & Jean F.)
April – Tolerance
(Kindergarten & Ted S.)
May – Perseverance
(Terry & Marisa)
June – Courage (Louise
& Stephanie)
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