Responsive Classroom for Music, Art, PE, and Other Special Areas

by Responsive Classroom

Responsive Classroom practices have helped thousands of special area teachers for more than 30 years. Here you'll find practical suggestions, charts, planners, and examples from experienced special area teachers who use Responsive Classroom practices every day. You'll learn how to:

Open and close each period in calm, orderly ways
Set students up for success by modeling and practicing skills and routines
Use positive teacher language
Engage students more deeply
Refocus and recharge students with quick, fun, movement breaks
Respond to misbehavior to get students back to learning

Genres: Education, Professional Development, Nonfiction, Teaching

204 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2016

About the author

Responsive Classroom is a research-based approach to K-8 teaching that focuses on the strong link between academic success and social-emotional learning (SEL). We believe that a high-quality education for every child is built on the foundation of a safe and joyful learning community. We provide professional development for elementary and middle schools worldwide.

We have published over 40 books since 1990, including "The First Six Weeks of School," "The Power of Our Words," and "The Morning Meeting Book."

Reviews

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Responsive Classroom for Music, Art, PE, and Other Special Areas does not include World Language teachers, my cohort in my school district made it a summer read. What a wonderful choice! In fact, this book should be required reading for any new elementary teacher, including regular classroom ones. I can’t recommend this book enough for its suggestions for class openings, closing, discipline, modeling procedures, etc.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

this has nice ideas and a good layout. a lot of it is common sense stuff, but it’s nice to have it all in one place to refer back to for when i inevitably need help this year

[Lisa Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had to teach a workshop based on this book and it’s been a minute since I taught specials. For those of us who are accustomed to teaching a grade level, this is an excellent reminder of the unique benefits and challenges of having students once or twice a week.

[Mandy Parmeter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book back in May right before my spring program and had to put it down. I am so glad I got back to it as it is nice to read find a book that takes a widely used text/practice and relates it to specialists who are often left wondering how this material relates. This book uses real life examples of how a specialist might use these practices in their classroom. I did find that the book often referred to previous passages or pages later in the book making me question some of the organization of the book, but there were a lot of great ideas. Not only did it give complete explanations of the ideas, it also gave examples of the wording a teacher may use to implement the idea. I look forward to implementing some of these in my classroom this fall.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be incredibly useful as I began my second year in the role of elementary school librarian, with 3 rotations of classes each day. My first year was a huge learning experience, and I continue to learn from my peers and superiors.
The practical ideas offered in this book - including opening/closing routines, positive reminding or redirecting language, and quick sharing and game ideas - have already proved helpful.
I took my time reading through, marking passages that I'll refer to again. I plan to re-read this regularly, different sections as needed, and keep it handy as a reference.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up at my local library because it's rare to find a book on education and classroom management directed specifically at specials teachers. There are a lot of practical suggestions here with examples from all specials areas, which I really appreciated. The authors discuss the importance of a entering and exiting routines, establishing rules and procedures, and how to deal with issues. It's not a book that can help deal with extreme behavior, but more to help with general student populations. The authors also touch on specific language to use and avoid when speaking to students and dealing with issues, which is always a good reminder.

[Keeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book of Responsive Classroom techniques for specials teachers leaves me with a better understanding of the practicalities of their approach or philosophy, but also a wish that it had been more actively edited. The text feels like writing by committee, with many things far wordier than they need to be for comprehension.

[Yulia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great resource to supplement a four day RC training that was provided by my school district. There are some tidbits in this book that are a much needed addition for specialists. I plan to use the worksheets to keep myself organized in the beginning of this school year.

[Random Scholar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has a lot of practical suggestions for special area teachers to improve their lessons. I would also suggest that this book could be useful to general ed teachers because it emphasizes many specific ways we can use responsive teaching.

[Josh · Rating 3 out of 5]

My principal assigned this book to my specialist team. It serves as a good reminder of best practices and had a few new little nuggets of wisdom to take away from it.

Recommended for anyone needing a little edge for their teaching routines.

[Tessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book with lots of advice and resources for helping Related Arts teachers integrate Responsive Classroom into their environment.

[Denese Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of practical strategies that could be used in any classroom!

[Émilie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mostly common sense. Some good points about teacher language but otherwise there are more useful teaching tools.

[Kenny Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Textbook for Teaching K-12 methods

[Carly Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic, applicable strategies for specials areas. Lots that I can implement right away and explained in a way that is never too academic.

[Samantha Hegre · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many of these books are only marginally applicable to specials/elective classes, so this was super helpful and gave me great, practical ideas.

[Emily Rink · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great overview of activities and procedures relevant to those in special area classrooms

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some thoughtful reminders and tips for managing students secifically for specialist teachers.

[Mark Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource on classroom management for specialists. I read this as part of a PDE class. It has great practical tips.