There is usually one piece of paper and one pen for the team. A subject, idea or problem is introduced. One youth makes a written contribution and then passes the paper and pen to the next person. The paper and pen go around the table until each person has contributed. Round Robin is the oral …
A way to build commitment, buy-in and skills is to alternate between facilitators during family meetings or classroom group work. Teach youth the skills of effective facilitation, including courtesy, careful listening, time management, and organization of ideas. They should routinely reflect on the challenges of effective facilitation and brainstorm solutions to address those challenges. Thus …
Use a tangible object like a stick, a flower, a ball, or something important to the group to facilitate civil discussions and collaborative activities. Three rules are: 1) only the person with the item speaks, 2) all others focus on the person with the item in hand, and 3) anyone has the right to pass. …
A very simple communication and exploration exercise that can take place with youth and adults just about anywhere. Ideally, it would be used in a calm setting with all participants focused on the activity, such as at mealtime or bed time. Each person is asked to share a rose (the best, special, or most positive …
An international evidence-based K-8 classroom program (started in Canada in 1996), which has shown significant effect in reducing levels of aggression among school children while raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy. The mission is to build caring, peaceful, and civil societies through the development of empathy in children and adults. The “emotional literacy” taught in …
A way of seeing situations play out and encouraging individuals to think critically about how to intervene, and in the process build compassion for alternate perspectives. Here are some scenarios that can be role-played with youth, in order to encourage them to think (and act) outside of themselves. * You see a kid looking sad …
Explore what role females played in various events in providing leadership for problem-solving, collaboration and working together. How is that different or similar from today?
Take a current event or an event within the classroom, school, family or community. If we were to rewind this event, how would we rebuild the story? When were there critical points of challenge or failure? What would we have done at those critical points? With young children, this can be used when debriefing a …
Design lessons that focus on the whole child, including: health, nutrition, home life, community life, culture, emotions, and safety. Reflect on all that a child needs to grow strong in body, mind and spirit. How do we nourish these needs in multifaceted ways? Come up with a Whole Child Portrait of every child and think …
Teach youth that the writing process isn’t finished after the first draft. A good Revision Toolbox has tools that work with word choice, writing structures, and voice. Encourage youth to collect words and create their own thesaurus. Encourage them to experiment with time by using flashbacks or slow motion techniques. Teach them about character development …