Responsive Classroom and On Site Learning = New and Improved Teaching!

Today I'm delighted to link up with Hot Lunch Tray for Part 2

of the Summer Blog Challenge!

Responsive Classroom

Several years ago I took a Responsive Classroom class that greatly improved and changed my classroom routines in these ways:

1.  Morning Messages.  There are two Morning Messages for students every morning.  The first is on the "big screen" which details our schedule for the day:

The other Morning Message contains academic review or a poem to be read during Morning Meeting:

Click on the book cover to read more at Amazon!

You can read more about my Responsive Classroom learning experience here.




Leventhal Map Center

One class I took at the Leventhal Map Center (located in the  Boston Public Library) was
Mapping Boston's Role in the American Revolution.

During this class, we visited several Boston historical landmarks such as the Old North Church.  We even got to go "behind the scenes!"  We climbed to the first level of the bell tower where Paul Revere worked as a child and visited the crypt beneath the church.  Behind the church, there is a printing press and a chocolate shop.

Seeing history up close and personal definitely has helped me to become a better and more knowledgeable Social Studies teacher!  Plus, even though I live 20 minutes north of Boston, I never visit touristy places ~ which is really unfortunate for me!  

Do you visit tourist place where you live? I hope you're having an adventurous summer!