Upcycled Computer Key Board Keys: A Fun Idea for Bookending a Learning Experience with Strong Beginnings and Endings
My last two posts have focused on methods for positively influencing learning outcomes with groups through strong beginnings. I shared some of my favorite activities for starting o
Using Quotes to “Hook” Your Group’s Attention
This is the second post in a series that offers ideas for actively involving learners from the first moment they enter the room for a workshop, training or classroom lesson. In my
Start Off With Style. Find a Hook!
“The beginning is the most important part of the work”. -Plato Starting Off with Style: The events or activities experienced the first time learners are exposed to information
Reflective Practice Versus Debriefing
Promoting new ways to engage groups in reflective practice has been a personal passion and focus of my work as an educator. From the beginning of my career as an education and clin
Active Review Methods Continued: Stories from the Classroom
In my last post I described how I have been re-purposing the well-known ice-breaker Have You Ever? into Anyone Who as a strategy to engage participants in reflecting on or reviewin
Another Idea to Get Them Moving and Keep Them Engaged: “Anyone Who”
Research on the brain and learning emphasizes the importance of breaking up lecture and direct instruction with activities that involve learners socially, emotionally and physicall
Can a Lecture Be Experiential?
Can a Lecture Be Experientiall? While in graduate school, I had an interesting conversation with Dr. Jasper Hunt my professor at Minnesota State University, Mankato. We were fillin
The Educator as Guide
“A teacher is one who makes himself progressively unnecessary” – Thomas Curruthers Last week I was inspired by some recent discussions with educators and counselo
Get Them Moving, Keep Them Engaged
If you are reading this post, chances are you believe it is important to find ways to actively engage learners in your classroom, boardroom, or group counseling setting. However,
More Summer Reading: Leadership Books
There are still a few weeks of summer left- and time to relax, read and gather new ideas and perspectives to enhance your practice as an educator and leader. In my last post I shar
Summer Reading List: Books on the Brain and Learning
Summer Reading List Books on the Brain and Learning: Jen Stanchfield, M.S. Summer is a great time to relax and rejuvenate. Many educators find that some time away from our students
Inspired by Journaling in the Classroom- Latest WNB Friday Lesson
Check out yesterday’s Wood ‘N’ Barnes Friday Lesson Post. Inspired by Journaling in the Classroom: An educator shares how she has used journaling prompts from The
The Firefly Group
This week The Firefly Group posted an article in their online newsletter about using the Miniature Metaphors Processing Tool. Thanks to Brian Remer and The Firefly Group for your
More on Learning Through Writing and Reflection
Latest Wood ‘N’ Barnes Friday Lesson: Thoughts on Sharing Journal Entries With Others Excerpts from The Me I See: Click Here to Read Full Post
Processing in the Middle of the Experience
Processing in the Middle of the Experience Jen Stanchfield Often when we facilitate reflection with groups, we make time after the experience or lesson is completed to revie
Engaging Groups in Meaningful Dialogue and Reflection While Practicing Decision-making and Consensus Building.
Engaging Groups in Meaningful Dialogue and Reflection While Practicing Decision-making and Consensus Building. Jen Stanchfield My last few posts have explored the power of p
More on helping students practice decision-making, compromise, and consensus through experiential activities -A funny story:
Last week I mentioned my favorite way to divide a group into teams using a “Which One?” scenario where partners practice compromise/decision-making. After reading the last entr
Strategies for Helping Participants Practice Decision-Making, Compromise & Consensus Continued…A Tried and True Method for Dividing Groups Into Teams
In Monday’s post I mentioned that I had observed a trend of children and adolescents missing out the development of important social & emotional skills because of a lack
