How We Teach Responsive Classroom in Room 101 

The Responsive Classroom approach to teaching helps build classroom communities where children feel understood, safe, valued and respected and where they learn to value and respect others.  It is based on the following C.A.R.E.S. principles: Cooperation, Assertion, Responsibility, Empathy and Self-control.

We believe children reach the greatest cognitive and social growth when they learn to care for themselves, each other and the school environment.  We work to integrate academic and social learning throughout the school day, nurturing students who are informed, ethical problem solvers and engaged learners.  We strive to provide opportunity for students to explore subject matter so they can construct their own understanding independently and through frequent social interactions.  We believe that how children learn is as important as what they learn. 

A Responsive Classroom approach

• teaches respect and caring as the basis for interaction so that everyone feels significant and included
• indentifies with students clear, meaningful boundaries for behavior so everyone feels safe
• structures opportunities for children to explore their environment and learn to take care of it
• values and displays children’s ideas, creations and discoveries
• enables children to experiment, make academic choices, practice social and academic skills, solve problems and work in a community
• asks and encourages thoughtful questions which can have more than one answer
• involves families in their children’s education
• emphasizes cooperation, assertion, responsibility, empathy and self-control throughout the teaching day