Responsive Classrooms

By Sarah Feldman, Middle & Lower School Counselor

Sarah Feldman Middle & Lower School Counselor

Responsive Classroom is an evidencebased approach that focuses on the strong link between academic success and social-emotional learning. With this stated focus in mind at Berwick, the Lower School faculty have implemented a new problem-solving framework for students. The Peace Table is a designated location in the classroom where students experiencing interpersonal conflict can be supported through a fill-in-the-blank script to help them learn how to recognize a social conflict and listen to the other party’s response. Students then brainstorm two or more solutions and agree to try one.

The idea of a Peace Table is not new, and has been implemented across the country. The popular podcast Hidden Brain detailed the concept in an episode entitled “What Makes Relationships Work.” The concept can be traced back to rudimentary marriage counseling techniques for couples experiencing frustration when communicating. Actively listening to the other perspective creates an opportunity for understanding. The goal of the Peace Table is to aid and develop empathy, problem-solving, and perspective-taking skills. Ultimately, these conversations help students access their feelings and emotions and better understand what they need within their peer or teacher-student relationships. While still in its infancy, the Lower School has seen initial success with this approach and progress in the social-emotional development of its participants. Our community is very excited to see how this initiative develops over time to suit the needs of our students.