Have the children/students mix, then teacher calls “pair” and the youth pair up. Teacher then asks a question and gives the pairs thinking time. Pairs then share. Deepen careful listening skills by having each person share the interests, thoughts and ideas of their partner. Individuals in each pair take responsibility for listening, interpreting, and representing …
Repeating the meaning of a person’s words in a warm and caring tone assures the speaker that you seek to understand instead of judging or giving advice. The listener can help the speaker to better understand him/herself and his/her emotions. Some mirroring phrases are “What I hear you saying is….”, “I can see (or hear) …
Teach youth how to belly breathe by having them lie down and put their hands on their bellies. See how deep they can breathe in and how slow they can breathe out. When youth find themselves angry, remind them to put their hands on their bellies and to breathe through the anger. Encourage them to …
Use a literature circle to discuss major elements of a story that is developmentally appropriate to the audience. Include its characters and events. Are the characters realistic or are they symbolic? What motivates the characters to make the choices they do? How does the social, political, or economic context influence the work? Is there a …
A great visual tool to show the imbalance of a brain that is experiencing anger or rage, and how it is possible for the anger and rage to subside, thus gaining control of our reactions. Get a clear glass bottle or jar, add water, glycerin, and glitter with a lot of sparkle (recipes and videos …
Mauka (mountain) to makai (ocean) management. In teams, draw an ahupua‘a (Hawaiian term for a large traditional socio-economic/geologic/climatic subdivision of land that was cooperatively managed). Then share different interpretations of land division. Discuss how responsibilities are shared. Have youth evaluate how this structure compares to their classroom or neighborhood or community responsibilities. Combine with a …
Bring in a knowledgeable kupuna (elder) to share their life story. Discuss how roles, rights, and responsibilities look similar or different in Hawai‘i (or elsewhere) today. Understand the shared humanity regardless of age. Appreciate the wisdom and perspective of the kupuna. The joy of our kupuna can also be experienced by visiting them where they …
It is the AND that brings kind AND firm together to avoid extremes. Begin by validating feelings and/or choices when possible. Examples, “I know you don’t want to brush your teeth, AND we can do it together.” “You want to keep playing, AND it is time for bed. Do you want one story or two?” …
In order to develop respectful relationships between all members of a group or community (classroom, team, family unit, etc.), there must be a clear and strong presence of intellectual safety. The group leader states: “All participants in our community – youth and adults – must feel free to ask any question or state any opinion …
Youth need to feel comfortable sharing their ideas and feelings, so allowing space for individual work, one-to-one work and group work is critical for self-reflection, expression and collaboration.