New Research Paper Shows Use of Responsive Classroom Leads to Academic Gains

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-- WITH PHOTO -- TO EDUCATION, AND NATIONAL EDITORS:

New Research Paper Shows Use of Responsive Classroom Leads to Academic

Gains

TURNERS FALLS, Mass., March 12, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The

use of Responsive Classroom, a research-based approach to elementary

education, leads to academic gains in students, according to a

University of Virginia study just published in the American

Educational Research Journal.

The randomized controlled trial, which followed 2,094 students in 24

Virginia schools for three years (from grades 3 to 5), found that

students whose teachers fully implemented the Responsive Classroom

approach scored significantly higher on reading and math tests. The

gains were equally strong for children of all socio-economic

backgrounds.

The Responsive Classroom approach improves teachers' effectiveness by

raising their competencies across three key, interrelated domains of

teaching: promoting academic engagement, creating positive community,

and effectively managing the classroom. The approach emphasizes

fostering student autonomy and teaching children foundational social

and emotional skills needed for high-level academic learning.

Sara Rimm-Kaufman, principal investigator of the $2.9 million study

funded by the Institute of Education Sciences, says evidence that

teaching social skills can translate into higher test scores is

important information for educational decision-makers at a time of

heightened interest in high-level academic learning. "Our research

shows that time spent supporting children's social and emotional

abilities can be a very wise investment," said Kaufman, as quoted last

week in the The Washington Post.

An important feature of the Responsive Classroom approach is that it's

not an "add on," but rather integrates the teaching of social and

academic skills throughout the school day. Teachers use specific

practices to teach children crucial social and emotional skills such

as cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy, and

self-regulation while teaching academic lessons.

Lora Hodges, executive director of Northeast Foundation for Children,

developer of the Responsive Classroom approach, says a holistic

approach that integrates social, emotional, and academic learning is

critical for success in today's complex, globally connected world and

foundational for achieving the Common Core State Standards. "If we

want every child, every day, to learn the skills necessary to face the

challenges of the 21st century, then we need to focus on the most

important ingredient-good teaching. That's what Responsive Classroom

is all about."

Hodges called the study findings a victory for children. "As

educators, our highest hope is for students to succeed in school so

they'll flourish today, tomorrow, and far into the future. This study

tells us that there is a reliable approach that teachers can use for

turning that hope into reality."

The University of Virginia study also found that support from the

school principal was critical to teachers' full use of the Responsive

Classroom approach. As the researchers say, to implement the approach

consistently and at a high level, teachers have to be supported by a

school administrator or someone at the school who says "This is a

priority, this is what we should be doing."

About Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc., and the Responsive

Classroom@ Approach

The not-for-profit Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc. (NEFC) was

established in 1981 by elementary school educators who envisioned a

way of teaching that would bring together academic and social learning

throughout the school day. That way of teaching, called the Responsive

Classroom approach, is now being used in schools across the country.

It has been recognized by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and

Emotional Learning (CASEL) as one of the most well-designed,

evidence-based social and emotional learning programs. NEFC offers

Responsive Classroomon-site consulting services to schools and

districts; workshops and institutes for educators in locations around

the country; and numerous books, videos, and other resources for

teachers and administrators.

For more information, visit www.responsiveclassroom.org.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130108/DC38968LOGO

SOURCE Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc.

-0- 03/12/2014

/CONTACT: Richard Henning, Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc., 85 Avenue A, P.O. Box 718, Turners Falls, MA 01376, 800-360-6332, ext. 111, richard@responsiveclassroom.org

/Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130108/DC38968LOGO

/Web Site: http://www.responsiveclassroom.org

CO: Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc.

ST: Massachusetts

IN: EDU

SU: SVY CHI NPT

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