Responsive Classroom

For the past few years, Pekin Public School District 108 has been gradually implementing the practices of Responsive Classroom to bolster social-emotional skills and academic learning. 

"Responsive Classroom is a student-centered, social and emotional learning approach to teaching and discipline. It is comprised of a set of research, and evidence-based practices designed to create safe, joyful, and engaging classroom and school communities for both students and teachers."

- from responsiveclassroom.org 

You many not have heard of it because we often refer to the different parts of Responsive Classroom or we just work them into the day. The students probably won't hear us talk about Responsive Classroom directly. What you may hear about is Morning Meeting, Quiet Time, or Closing Circle, all things that we do to build community and transition to different parts of the school day.

Each school and each classroom implements Responsive Classroom differently. There are so many components and practices that it's hard to implement them all at once.
Pekin 108 teachers are being encouraged to incorporate components with which they feel comfortable, to start, and then add more as they receive professional development on components. I will touch on some of the principles and practices in these blog articles throughout the year. If you have questions that I can address about general practices and principles, please either email me or leave a comment below, and I will address questions as soon as I can. In the meantime, I invite you to check out their website at www.responsiveclassroom.org to learn more about it.

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