In order to start a new school year successfully, teachers would agree that it is crucial to build strong relationships and foster a classroom environment in which all students feel safe, respected, and seen. Each individual child should feel supported and comfortable in sharing their thoughts and being their genuine, authentic selves while in school. Throughout the year, students familiarize themselves with the classroom and develop trusted and meaningful bonds with their peers. In doing so, they experience differences, disagreement, and boundary experimentation, all of which are significant aspects of the socio-emotional learning process. As teachers, it is our job to help our students navigate these occasions and provide them with the skills and language to problem-solve with each other as well as with adults without impeding academic learning.

Burgundy was supportive in my request to attend the Responding to Misbehaviors workshop offered through Responsive Classroom. The workshop focused on how teachers and students can work together as equal collaborators to negotiate social expectations and situations through introspective and solution-oriented conversation.

We want our students to feel comfortable and equipped to talk through disagreements, build rapport, and come to a collective decision about how they will move forward whether in work or play. I look forward to guiding these conversations and, in time, witness students utilizing the model on their own!