Graffiti Wall for Active and Engaging Reflection Online or In-Person
In my February post, I shared how I have been using my favorite closing reflection activity, “Group Drawing,” online with Jamboard combined with breakout groups (Jamboa
October Newsletter: Re-Imagining Meaningful Engagement, Social and Emotional Learning and Community Building
When my travels to facilitate professional development came to an abrupt halt in March, I couldn’t imagine how I would bring my experiential facilitation, teaching, social an
Domino Fraction Line Up: An Accidental Success in the Classroom
I find that some of my best activities and strategies are created by accident, when a lesson plan doesn’t go quite as I planned, or when an unexpected situation arises and I have
Designing and Re-Imagining the Classroom Space
Excerpt from the Inspired Educator, Inspired Learner book: I spend a lot of time moving chairs, and it is worth it! The classroom or group room space has a significant impac
Create Multiple Pathways to Learning
The more senses that are used to learn and practice information, the more neural networks are activated and the more ways the brain is able to store and retrieve information. Mult
Gallery Walk: Active Group Reflection and Information Gathering
This time of year I find myself facilitating vision and goal setting retreats, training programs and project oriented planning meetings with many schools and organizations. Time an
Re-Purposing “Ice-Breaker” Activities for Academic Review, Reflection, Context Setting, and Formative Assessment
The teachers, corporate trainers, high school advisors and other educators I work with are constantly trying to create a balance of learning in their classes and groups. These inte
Dominoes, Match Game Cards, and Other Simple Tools to Engage Your Groups From the Moment They Walk in the Door
A number of group facilitators and teachers who visit my site asked about the pictures of dominoes they have seen in some of my workshop and classroom activity photo albums. Per th
Creating Context, Inspiring Inquiry, and Building Community: Another Variation of Trade and Share
In today’s post I share another example of using this group building and dialogue activity to create context, inspire inquiry into a subject, and facilitate formative assessment.
Trade and Share: An Active Reflection and Dialogue Activity to Get Participants Moving, Talking, Reflecting and Keep Them Engaged
Over the last couple of years I’ve posted about a number of twists on activities traditionally used as icebreakers that I re-purpose as active, social approaches to reflection, p
Group Building, Problem-Solving and Academic Review: Zoom and other Sequencing Challenges
Interactive approaches to practicing, recalling, reviewing and discussing academic material such as this one increase engagement. According to new research on the brain and learni
Another Brain-Friendly Strategy for Blending Community Building, Academic Review and Social-Emotional Learning: Charades Race
This time of year many of us are returning to the classroom or kicking off training programs. We often start by facilitating community/team building activities with groups to buil
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
