Responsive®

If Classroom Walls Could Talk

Margaret — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:51:20 +0000

Take a look at your classroom walls and displays. What do they say about you, your relationship with your class, and your view of teaching? Are your students guests in your room, or does the classroom feel like a space you share with them? Do the walls and displays show what you think and believe . . . or do they show what your students know, think, and wonder about?

Bullying We Don't See

caltha — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:06:09 +0000

Caltha Crowe

Teachers are supposed to have “eyes in the back of our heads.” When I was teaching, I believed I did see everything–I certainly thought I knew when children misbehaved. Then, while researching bullying for How to Bullyproof Your Classroom, I read some amazing facts about how often educators don’t see bullying, even when it happens right in front of us.

I Didn't Do It!

Margaret — Mon, 14 May 2012 20:27:42 +0000

Margaret Berry Wilson

What do you do when a student flat-out denies doing something you know (or are at least pretty sure) she did? Are consequences ever appropriate in this situation? Do you just give up and move on? Do you enlist parents’ help? It can be a hard call to make.

We Can't Stop Bullying Alone

caltha — Tue, 08 May 2012 19:49:09 +0000

Caltha Crowe

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It seems to me sometimes that children's teachers and children's families live on different planets when it comes to the issue of keeping our children safe in school. Personally, I've lived on both of those planets.

Fostering Imagination

Margaret — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:38:09 +0000

Margaret Berry Wilson

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Children need to develop the ability to think imaginatively and creatively. Children with imagination do a better job visualizing what they are reading, solving problems, entertaining themselves without devices, and thinking creatively in a variety of situations.

Our New Executive Director

Richard — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 14:21:55 +0000

Richard Henning

I am very pleased to announce that Dr. Lora Hodges will become the executive director of Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc. (NEFC) on July 1, 2012.

Morning Message Idea: What Do You Know?

Jen — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:08:00 +0000

Jen Audley

Here's a Morning Meeting message idea from 80 Morning Meeting Ideas for Grades 3–6, by Carol Davis:

Use a message like this one to tap students' prior knowledge and engage them in their learning.

(7+5)/(30–10)/(2020–9)

Good Morning, Geometry Greats!

Morning Message Idea: Favorite Numbers

Jen — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Jen Audley

Here's a Morning Meeting message idea from 80 Morning Meeting Ideas for Grades K–2, by Susan Lattanzi Roser:

Use a message like this one about favorite numbers to engage students with math.

¡Hola, Niños!

Helping Students Maintain Positive Mindsets

Sarah — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:15:00 +0000

Sarah Fillion

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Recently, I ran the Rock 'n' Roll USA 2012 Marathon in Washington, DC. At about mile 19 of the 26.2 mile run, I realized that the goal time I'd set for myself was not achievable. For the next mile or so, I felt defeated—I had done so much work towards meeting that goal, and I had failed.

Habits of the Heart

Richard — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Richard Henning

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I was fortunate to hear Parker Palmer speak last week in a program sponsored by Courage in Schools (an initiative of Courage & Renewal Northeast) at Wellesley College. There were 120 educators in the room listening to and discussing his wise and timely thoughts on the five "habits of the heart" that need to be taught and nurtured in families, communities, classrooms, and schools. These are ways of seeing, being, and responding to life that he feels are critical to sustaining a healthy democracy:

Group Activity Idea: Encore!

Jen — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:15:00 +0000

Jen Audley

Here's a Morning Meeting activity idea from 80 Morning Meeting Ideas for Grades 3–6, by Carol Davis:

Encore!

Students team up to connect vocabulary words with favorite songs.

Group Activity Idea: Lost Tooth Poem

Jen — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Jen Audley

Here's a Morning Meeting activity idea from 80 Morning Meeting Ideas for Grades K–2, by Susan Lattanzi Roser:

Lost Tooth Poem

Children will relate to this poem about a missing tooth!