Dear Parents,

The Responsive Classroom approach is utilize at school in First Grade Spanish Class and other staff. This approach emphasizes teaching children to take care of themselves, each other, and the school environment so that everyone can learn at his/her best.

You will start to notice our classes will pay more attention to how students treat one another throughout the day. We will also see a strong emphasis on students setting goals for their own learning and taking responsibility for reaching those goals.

Guiding principles of The Responsive Classroom approach is based on theories of how children learn and on the experiences of classroom teachers. There are seven basic principles behind this approach:

• Learning social skills is as important as learning academic skills.

• How children learn is as important as what they learn: Process and content go hand in hand.

• Children gain knowledge most effectively through social interaction.

• To be successful academically and socially, children need to learn 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 how skillful each individual teacher is: Lasting change begins with the adult community.

Teaching practices and Teacher Training:

The Responsive Classroom approach includes several different parts. We will have two main trainings and other professional developments throughout this year. Each training will be teach our staff this new approach and training will continue into the 2016-2017 school year when we will start to fully implement the Responsive Classroom approach. Our first part of this school year we will focus on implementing a successful Morning Meeting.

At Morning Meeting our children will gather for fifteen to twenty minutes every day to greet each other, share news, do a group activity, and look forward to the day ahead. This daily routine builds community, creates a positive climate for learning, and gives children practice in a wide range of academic and social skills.

Please let me us know if you have any questions.

You can learn more about the Responsive Classroom approach by going to www.responsiveclassroom.org. We look forward to a productive and joyful year with your child!