The Secret To Creating Lasting Change
In the current election, both presidential candidates agree that American schools must do a much better job of helping our workforce acquire the skills they need to compete in the demanding global economy of the 21st century.
Despite the lofty rhetoric – and many years of experimentation – change has been elusive. But recently a new approach has been showing exceptional promise. It’s called the Responsive Classroom.
Educator Sara Mosle experienced this new approach first-hand:
Among its guiding principles is a belief that students who develop social skills like cooperation, assertiveness and empathy can achieve more academically. The idea is similar to the “character education” Paul Tough advocates in his new book How Children Succeed.
The Responsive Classroom has produced impressive results. One study showed that 24 schools where teachers had been trained in the Responsive Classroom approach produced a substantial increase in standardized test scores compared to a control group of schools where teachers did not receive the same training or support.
What’s the secret?
Sara E. Rimm-Kaufman, the lead author of the Responsive Classroom study, believes the program succeeds because teachers received both intensive training and follow-up coaching back in their classrooms. This ongoing support helped the teachers to implement and sustain their new practices.
What are you doing to ensure that your managers are receiving the training and follow-up coaching they need to be Responsive Leaders and to create lasting change?
Read more about the Responsive Classroom.