July 28, 2022
Responsive Classroom Training
New-To-Augusta County Schools teachers gathered at Stuarts Draft Elementary School and Stuarts Draft High School today for Responsive Classroom Training—a student-centered, social and emotional learning approach to teaching and discipline.
We asked training Coordinators Dr. Sarah Melton and Kaitie Saunders to tell us a little more about this approach.
This year, responsive classroom training is being offered to all new hires. Why is this important for the division?
Mrs. Saunders: ACPS prioritizes the physical, intellectual, and emotional well being of all students. Responsive Classroom offers a way to build classroom community, set clear expectations, and engage students in learning. It also sets teachers who are new to the division up for a successful first year with ACPS.
What might a responsive classroom look like at each level—elementary, middle, and high?
Mrs. Saunders: At the elementary level, if someone visits a responsive classroom they will see each child greeted by name, clear expectations set, interactive modeling, students participating, and students taking ownership in their learning. If someone stays for a while they will likely be invited to join in on a morning meeting in which students greet each other, participate in activities together, and share fun information. Responsive Classrooms are well managed, consequences are logical, and the environment is predictable.
Dr. Melton: At the secondary level, if someone visits a responsive classroom they will see a community in the classroom, where relationships are built among the students and with the teacher. You will see clear expectations set, interactive modeling, students actively participating, interacting with each other, the teacher, and the materials, and students taking ownership in their learning. Responsive Classrooms are well managed, consequences are logical, and the environment is predictable.
What are some highlights of the training?
Mrs. Saunders: The one day overview for new staff is intended to get them started in building their Responsive Classroom. We suggest that after they complete their first year of teaching in ACPS that they participate in the full 4 day training.
What else should be spotlighted about Responsive Classroom for our community?
Dr. Melton: This is the fourth year that ACPS has supported Responsive Classroom training. We have offered multiple sessions of the full four-day workshops as well as the one-day introductory sessions. We have also supported teachers who want to pursue further training for specific content areas or specific instructional topics in attending those sessions. Responsive Classroom is so effective because it is not a program. Instead it is an approach that combines strategies to build a meaningful classroom community with what we know are effective and engaging instructional practices.