AKA Dhaka teaching staff participate in Responsive Classroom workshop

Teaching staff at the Aga Kha Academy Dhaka participated in a week-long workshop with Responsive Classroom. The workshop was conducted by Kerry O’Grady, an education consultant and coach based in Washington, DC, USA. As a professional, Ms Kerry has trained schools across 45 states in the US and 23 countries around the world.

Responsive Classroom has supported educators in social-emotional learning for about 40 years. It is a tested method of teaching and discipline that emphasises engaging academics, positive community, effective management and developmental awareness. Responsive Classroom offers workshops, books and resources that help teachers make classrooms safe, engaging and fun. Their goal is for all students in schools to learn well and be happy by growing academically and socially.

The workshop at the Academy underscored the natural ability of children to learn and embrace risks when they feel valued, secure and part of a community. The teachings closely align with the Aga Khan Academies Learner Profile and Aga Khan Curricular Strands, enabling students to hone 21st-century skills, ranging from problem-solving and critical thinking to innovation and collaboration. The emphasis was also on the power of positive language in stimulating both academic and social growth in young minds. Teachers were encouraged to involve students in decision-making, offering them a platform to make conscious choices.

The participants were involved and committed to their learning, which was reflected in the big smiles and laughter when learning new games or the thoughtful buzz when reflecting on new practices.

“The workshop was a revelation,” said Student Support Services Coordinator and Student Guidance Counsellor at the Academy Ms Maliha Afzal. “As someone deeply involved in student support and guidance, I found the Responsive Classroom approach aligns perfectly with our core values. The sessions gave us new strategies to nurture our students emotionally and academically. I genuinely believe this training will be a game-changer for how we connect with and uplift our students.”