Newest Responsive Classroom™ Book Helps Adult Meetings Come Alive

TURNERS FALLS, Mass., July 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Just-published by Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc. (NEFC), developer of the Responsive Classroom approach, Energize Your Meetings! 35 Interactive Learning Structures for Educators helps school leaders facilitate productive, engaging meetings that adult participants look forward to and leave feeling invigorated. The book offers easy step-by-step directions for interactive structures that are ideal for helping adult learners:

• get to know new material
• assess their own comprehension
• deepen their understanding of content or issues
• reflect on their learning and develop action steps
• solve problems collaboratively

"We know that adults as well as children learn best when they can be both active and interactive—when their learning includes some getting up, moving around, and working with others," says Lora Hodges, Executive Director of NEFC. "The structures in Energize Your Meetings! give group leaders easy ways to make just this kind of adult learning happen."

Meeting facilitators needn't be trained presenters to use these structures. Each involves few steps, little to no advance preparation, and few or no materials, and "Learning Structure in Action" examples help group leaders envision how each structure might work in their own setting. In addition, a "Learning Structures at a Glance" chart at the beginning of the book helps users choose the best structure for their purpose and group size.

All of the structures in Energize Your Meetings! are ones used in Responsive Classroom workshops. "Participants often say that Responsive Classroom workshops are the best professional development they've ever experienced," says Hodges. "A big part of that is the power of the interactive learning structures presenters use. We're delighted to share these structures, and we hope this resource will help many educators lead meetings and PD sessions that harness the full power of active, collaborative learning among their staff."

Visit the Responsive Classroom website for more information and sample learning structures.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Energize Your Meetings! 35 Interactive Learning Structures for Educators
Spiral-bound, 96 pages, $23
Copyright 2014, Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-892989-62-8

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 a research-based elementary education approach associated with greater teacher effectiveness, higher student achievement, and improved school climate. Responsive Classroom practices help educators create classrooms characterized by engaging academics, positive community, effective management, and developmentally appropriate teaching. 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 Classroom on-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.

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SOURCE Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc.