Responsive Classroom Four-Day Courses

Join us at a location near you or on Zoom! Register early to receive a discount.


Training in the Responsive Classroom approach takes place during our four-day courses. Our interactive and engaging eight-day training sessions are split into two four-day courses, so you have time to implement foundational practices first. Start your adoption of the Responsive Classroom approach with the core course, and complete your adoption with the advanced course.


Workshop

Elementary Core Course

Learn to create a safe, joyful, and engaging learning environment ideal for student success and growth.

Responsive Classroom is an evidence-based approach to teaching that is deeply rooted in social-emotional learning and focused on engaging academics, positive community, effective management, and developmental awareness. You will learn to create safe and joyful learning communities where every student can thrive—while helping your students develop strong social, emotional, and academic skills.

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Workshop

Elementary Advanced Course

Increase your knowledge and strengthen your application of the Responsive Classroom approach.

In this interactive four-day course, you will deepen your knowledge and strengthen your implementation of the Responsive Classroom approach as you refine familiar strategies and practices while learning and expand-ing upon new ones. Using the rich resources The Joyful Classroom and Teaching Self-Discipline, the advanced course enables you to consider your unique context and setting and more effectively apply the approach with individual students, the class, and the school community.

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Workshop

Middle School Core Course

Bring transformative social-emotional learning practices into your middle school classroom.

Responsive Classroom is an evidence-based approach to teaching that’s deeply rooted in social-emotional learning and focused on engaging academics, positive community, effective management, and developmental awareness. In this interactive and engaging four-day course, you’ll learn how to design and implement a middle school experience that’s responsive to the developmental strengths and needs of young adolescents—while helping your students develop the academic and social skills they need to be successful.

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Workshop

Middle School Advanced Course

Continue to learn and reflect on strategies and practices that further connect you with your students.

The Middle School Advanced Course is designed to build on the teaching strategies and practices you learned in the Responsive Classroom Middle School Core Course and currently use in your classroom. In addition to expanding and strengthening your current knowledge of middle school Responsive Classroom practices, you will be introduced to new methods and strategies for supporting your students’ social, emotional, and academic needs, which you will have the opportunity to unpack and connect to your current approach.

Event Date Location Early Discount Ends Registration Closes
Course Summary

Learn to create a safe, joyful, and engaging learning environment ideal for student success and growth.

Responsive Classroom is an evidence-based approach to teaching that is deeply rooted in social-emotional learning and focused on engaging academics, positive community, effective management, and developmental awareness. You will learn to create safe and joyful learning communities where every student can thrive—while helping your students develop strong social, emotional, and academic skills.

Suitable for:

Educators of grades K-6

Prerequisites:

None

Key Features:
  •  Learn and engage in energizers and interactive learning structures that can be used with students

  •  Experience an Academic Choice lesson using The New Bird in Town and Charlie and the Octopus that can be adapted for any grade level

  •  Plan an Interactive Modeling lesson, a role-play, and a Guided Discovery lesson to use with students

  •  Map out your learning space to organize your classroom for success

  •  Engage in planning workshops to create plans for implementation of Responsive Classroom practices 

  •  Reflect on your current teaching context and new content learned throughout the week

Course Summary

Increase your knowledge and strengthen your application of the Responsive Classroom approach.

In this interactive four-day course, you will deepen your knowledge and strengthen your implementation of the Responsive Classroom approach as you refine familiar strategies and practices while learning and expand-ing upon new ones. Using the rich resources The Joyful Classroom and Teaching Self-Discipline, the advanced course enables you to consider your unique context and setting and more effectively apply the approach with individual students, the class, and the school community.

Suitable for:

Educators of grades K-6

Prerequisites:

 4-day Elementary Core Course

Key Features:
  •  Use rubrics from the Responsive Classroom Assessment Tool to assess your current practices and focus your learning for the week

  •  Plan new practices for implementation such as class meetings and problem-solving conferences

  •  Refine and plan Interactive Modeling and role-play for non-classroom spaces like hallways, cafeteria, and bathrooms

  •  Learn and review language of learning lessons to target academic competencies

  •  Create and compile plans of Responsive Classroom practices into a portfolio for future implementation

Course Summary

 Bring transformative social-emotional learning practices into your middle school classroom.

Responsive Classroom is an evidence-based approach to teaching that’s deeply rooted in social-emotional learning and focused on engaging academics, positive community, effective management, and developmental awareness. In this interactive and engaging four-day course, you’ll learn how to design and implement a middle school experience that’s responsive to the developmental strengths and needs of young adolescents—while helping your students develop the academic and social skills they need to be successful.

Suitable for:

Educators of grades 5-8

Prerequisites:

None

Key Features:
  •  Discover how to create a safe, positive, and inclusive community with the Responsive Classroom approach to discipline

  •  Plan for and practice holding Responsive Advisory Meetings— a core practice for middle school

  •  Develop your teacher language to encourage student engagement and help them become more responsible and respectful

  •  Learn new strategies for effective classroom management

Course Summary

Continue to learn and reflect on strategies and practices that further connect you with your students.

The Middle School Advanced Course is designed to build on the teaching strategies and practices you learned in the Responsive Classroom Middle School Core Course and currently use in your classroom. In addition to expanding and strengthening your current knowledge of middle school Responsive Classroom practices, you will be introduced to new methods and strategies for supporting your students’ social, emotional, and academic needs, which you will have the opportunity to unpack and connect to your current approach.

Suitable for:

Educators of grades 5-8

Prerequisites:

4-day Responsive Classroom Core Course for Middle School Educators

Key Features:
  • Build upon core Responsive Classroom middle school practices, including Responsive Advisory Meetings, SMART goals, and logical consequences

  • Discover new strategies for connecting with students and their families

  • Learn proactive steps for dealing with difficult issues like toxic stress and cyberbullying

  • Develop self-reflective practices using portions of the Responsive Classroom Assessment Tool for Middle School Teachers

Frequently Asked Questions About Responsive Classroom Professional Development Events 

All Events

Q: How do I register for an upcoming course or workshop?

A: Click here to register for a one-day workshop. Click here to register for four-day courses. (Request a consultation with an educational partnership consultant about bringing Responsive Classroom professional development directly to your school or district.)

Q: What if I have to cancel my registration?

A: See the full cancellation policy here.

Q: Will I receive a certificate?

A: Certificates of attendance are emailed to participants after the event is completed. A 6-hour certificate of attendance is awarded to one-day workshop participants. A 28-hour certificate of attendance is awarded to four-day course participants.

Q: Can I earn credit for attending a Responsive Classroom course?

A: We have partnered with the University of Massachusetts Global for four-day course participants to earn graduate-level professional development credits. These credits are not part of a degree program, but instead are primarily used for professional advancement and recertification. You are advised to seek approval of appropriate district or college officials before enrolling in these courses to satisfy any degree, state credential, or local school district requirements. Click here for more information about earning professional development credit.

Q: Will I receive any discounts on resources?

A: Participants receive a 20% discount at our online bookstore when placing an order during an event. Shipping and handling is free for all orders shipped to the U.S. or U.S. territories.

Q: Can my school host a summer event?

A: Summer four-day course events are open to the public and take place in schools across the United States in June, July and August. We take care of the event planning and registration process, and you provide the venue. In exchange for hosting, your school will receive a monetary stipend and a set of Responsive Classroom resources. To learn more about hosting and to apply, see our Host School Application.

In-Person Events

Q: What should I bring?

A: Bring a reusable water bottle, favorite snacks, materials for note-taking, and an electronic device (smartphone, tablet, or laptop) to access online resources and complete a survey at the end of the workshop.

Q: What is the dress code?

A: Wear whatever is most comfortable for you, as our courses and workshops include movement activities. Jeans and sneakers are just fine. Consider bringing a sweater or sweatshirt, as levels of air conditioning vary at each site.

Q: Are meals provided?

A: We provide morning refreshments and lunch for all attendees. Feel free to bring your favorite snacks and plenty of water to keep your energy up throughout the day.

Q: Do you offer special rates or blocks of rooms at hotels near an event?

A: We do not provide hotel recommendations for participants traveling from out of town to an event, nor do we have special arrangements, discounts, or room blocks at any particular hotel. 

Virtual Events

Q: Can I register for a virtual course in any time zone offered?

A: Yes. All virtual events are scheduled from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM in the time zone indicated for the event. You are welcome to attend any virtual course in any time zone other than your own. You can find the breakdown by time zone here:

Eastern Daylight Savings Time Events Central Daylight Savings Events Mountain Daylight Savings Events Pacific Daylight Savings and Arizona Events
8:30-3:30 (EST) 9:30-4:30 (EST) 10:30-5:30 (EST) 11:30-6:30 (EST)
7:30-2:30 (CST) 8:30-3:30 (CST) 9:30-4:30 (CST) 10:30-5:30 (CST)
6:30-1:30 (MST) 7:30-2:30 (MST) 8:30-3:30 (MST) 9:30-4:30 (MST)
5:30-12:30 (PST) 6:30-1:30 (PST) 7:30-2:30 (PST) 8:30-3:30 (PST)

Q: What is the daily schedule for virtual professional development?

A: Full-Day: Log on to Zoom at 8:15 AM. Workshops and courses run from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM with a 30-minute morning break and 1-hour midday lunch break. Evenings: Log on to Zoom at 6:45 PM. Workshops and courses run from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM for three consecutive evenings.

Q: How do I access my virtual professional development?

A: A link to your Zoom class will be sent to you in a confirmation email. If you have not received a Zoom link 24 hours prior to your event starting, contact us at [email protected] to ensure we have the correct email address on file and to confirm that you are enrolled in the event.

Q: What do I need in my workspace for virtual professional development?

  • Your own individual computer/device
  • Responsive Classroom books and resources (shipped to you ahead of time)
  • Pen/pencil
  • Highlighter
  • Sticky notes and/or note paper
  • Water and snacks

Q: If I am attending a virtual event with colleagues, can we all log in to Zoom together on one device? 

A. No. Each registrant needs to log in individually with their own device, camera, and microphone. Our workshops and courses are interactive, and our presenters need the ability to clearly see and hear every participant. Also, every participant needs to log in to Zoom separately in order to participate in breakout rooms.

Have additional questions? Contact a member of our Events Planning Team at 800-360-6332, ext. 130, or email [email protected].

Certificate of Attendance

All participants who complete a Responsive Classroom course or workshop will receive a certificate of attendance.

One-day workshop: 6 hours

Four-day course: 28 hours

Graduate-Level Professional Development Credit

Participants who successfully complete a one-day workshop or a four-day course have the opportunity to earn graduate-level professional development credit through University of Massachusetts Global (UMass Global). This credit will be awarded by UMass Global upon completion of follow-up practicum projects* and the payment of an additional fee to UMass Global. 

*The follow-up practicum project for the one-day workshops requires an additional purchase of a Quick Coaching Guide ($11). Click here to see the list of Quick Coaching Guides required for each one-day workshop.

How to Register

You must register here with UMass Global within two months of completing your Responsive Classroom course or workshop.

Additional Information

These credits are not part of a degree program but instead are primarily used for professional advancement and recertification. Students are advised to seek approval of appropriate district or college officials before enrolling in these courses to satisfy any degree, state credential, or local school district requirements.

UMass Global is responsible for registrations, project assignments, and grading. Responsive Classroom only provides certificates of attendance.

Click here to learn more about registration, fees, credit options, and practicum assignments.

Please contact UMass Global directly with any questions.

Email: [email protected]

Call: 800-746-0082