Strong Beginnings: Strategies to Enhance Engagement, Create Context, and Set a Positive Tone in Group Experiences
Creating an inclusive and well-designed welcoming reflection activity (sometimes called a warm welcome, first five, or hook activity) to start a session enhances engagement, and cr
Notes from Japan • Connection, Community-Building and Reflection
I just returned from a wonderfully moving and memorable three-week visit to Japan. It was an honor to be invited back to Japan for a third time to offer workshops and reconnect wit
Every Picture Tells a Story – Roadtrip Edition
I’ve heard so much positive feedback from readers about the origin story of my Tomorrow Starts with Yes postcard. Since I’m knee deep in the final printing of the newest card
Tomorrow Starts With “Yes” The Story of One of My Most Loved Metaphor Cards
A message of hope and inspiration, a fun origin story– and it turns out, artistic collaboration, lasting love, serendipity, and a celebration of Motor City. As many readers know,
More Joyful Strategies: Savoring and Celebrating Positive Events
Here in Vermont, Spring has finally sprung! The Green Mountains are at their greenest, our daffodils and lilacs are blooming, and my hands have been in the dirt, expanding my veget
Cultivating Joy and Positivity
Here in Vermont, Spring has finally sprung! The Green Mountains are at their greenest, our daffodils and lilacs are blooming, and my hands have been in the dirt, expanding my veget
Reflection: The Essential Ingredient for Impactful Facilitation and Teaching
Here in Vermont, Spring has finally sprung! The Green Mountains are at their greenest, our daffodils and lilacs are blooming, and my hands have been in the dirt, expanding my veget
Name Pronunciation Resources: A Story from the Field
One of my most rewarding professional facilitation experiences has been my ongoing work with the Austin Independent School District in Texas. For more than ten years, I’ve ha
Why Names are Important & How to Honor Them
When groups come together for the first time, during the first weeks of school or the kick-off of fall programming, thoughtful educators and facilitators weave in intentional time
Increase Engagement and Belonging By Starting With Partner and Small Group Connection Activities
Rather than opening a program or class with a whole circle introduction I always begin rapport building and reflective dialogue with partner or small group sharing activities and b
Welcoming Activities for Meaningful Engagement, Community Building, and Reflection
Strong Beginnings The first few minutes of an experience are a key time to hook and engage learners, create context for learning, and set a welcoming tone. A novel and inclusive ac
Cultivate a Sense of Ownership and Enhance Engagement
One of the key tenets of experiential education is that people of all ages learn best when they perceive a sense of control and have choice and ownership in their learning experien
Harnessing the Power of Play
Never underestimate the power of play in learning! Play is a serious subject. There is a great deal of research on play and what constitutes true play, types of play, and stages of
Insights on the Art of Practitioner Self-Reflection from Guest Blogger Deidra Goodwin
As the calm of winter settled in here in Vermont during the last days of 2023, I enjoyed the quietest weeks of my professional calendar. During those slower-paced days of work life
Cultivating Appreciation, Celebration, and Gratitude All Year Long | Favorite Activities and Reflective Prompts
Gratitude is a reflective act, practice, and attitude that I try to weave into my workshop sessions and classes all year round. This can range from simple gratitude-centered conver
Inspiring Late Summer Reading: Reframing Our Relationship with Time
What a summer! Here in Vermont, like in so many other communities, our changing climate has challenged us with extreme rain and flooding. The summer has also been full of inspiring
Optimistic Closing Activities to Celebrate, Reflect, and Connect to Future Learning
This post offers engaging reflection techniques to make the most of end of program/end of school year moments with optimistic endings that cultivate lasting lessons: As readers of
