[ instigate change ]

I always think it's funny when I make huge plans to complete something and I forget to take into account that life is always busier than I realize. At the beginning of December I was given about 2.5 weeks off. I initially didn't even want the time off (crazy, I know) simply because I really don't enjoy the busyness of the Christmas season. Time off means time easily filled and used up by family get-togethers. Up until now I've had FIVE turkey dinners. I'm usually a vegetarian by the time I get to the end of December. In light of the hectic season and getting caught doing one too many things at one time and becoming a master at 'multi-tasking', I thought I would lay out this activity for you. I have done it before using only three different objects. But when I was at the AEE conference - High5 used three different types of patterns. I liked that one better because the Now What? questions made an easier cross-over to our everyday lives. Here's the activ...

I will be posting a new activity tomorrow. But I thought I would just share this right now. I continually stress to my staff and teachers who attend my workshops to stop reacting to the behaviour of their students and start asking themselves why they are acting the way they do. Each person's background and circumstances often create a framework for how they react towards stress, confrontation, and learning. Understanding this can help us work with individuals and help them gain a better understanding of themselves. Self-assessment and awareness are powerful tools. The ability to look at where we have come from, where we are and then decide for ourselves who we are going to be is something I think we all want to possess. And it is an essential part of growing the people who are our future.

Much like everyone - I'm finding myself crunched for time these days. I would like to think that I finally, after 30.5 years, have figured out how to slow down and not go crazy in this Christmas season - but alas...I have not. And so - until I can find myself properly seated without a mountain of Christmas cards in front of me I'm going to share this video with you. I know, I know - I KNOW what you're thinking. I don't have time for this. Well, make time. This video helps to explain where I am coming from when it comes to experiential education and how we should be approaching the education system. We're not manufacturing robots! We growing humans. If we miss the difference between the two - we're going to continue to see the performance and interest of our students decline - regardless of how much information we continue to jam into them...they will never be MORE ready for university or college or life. Sir Ken Robinson is the speaker and we all need ...

Where did we leave off? Oh yes... What happens if we do "Line Up From Least to Greatest" again...this time without cards?  I almost always do this next part when I have gone through Line up According to the Number (or From Least to Greatest...OR whatever you decide to name your activity). It always seems like a natural progression from the debrief. I also find that you can always talk about how it isn't right or possible to label people because we all have different talents and gifts. Almost every group can come up with that answer but I like to test them on it. That's when I normally get the group to pass the cards back to me and ask them to do the activity again (this is the only part where it's nice to have a title that works for doing it with OR without the cards like "Line Up From the Least to the Greatest" because then your instructions are the same for both activities). There is usually a few blank stares as it doesn't make sense initial...

Hello! Sorry about the delay in posting. As much as I love where I live...there are consequences - like internet. For the last month I have not had internet in the afternoons or evenings. This makes life difficult and frustrating when I have come to rely on it for so much of my "normal" living routine. I think that's there's a very profound teachable moment wrapped up in there and when I come across it as I'm facilitating - I'll be sure to let you know about it...as long as I have internet access. Today though I feel very excited about getting my "resource" gadget up. Now you can check out some of the resources that you would find in my office and in my home. It's very exciting...I'll soon even have a separate link for my American friends and one for Canadians as Amazon treats us like equals. Just follow the link straight to amazon to get them. I have often found that Amazon sells them cheaper than most other bookstores. The activity to...