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 or clients is perfect for reflecting on our professional practice. It can be enjoyable to take some time to learn about new resources and [...]

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 Me I See, 2E with her students.
Heidi Pauer, a High School Language Arts Teacher from Bow, NH, shared a couple of fun ideas with us. The first was [...]

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 review!

The Firefly Group works to create a collaborative learning environment by using playful methods. They work with businesses, non-profits, and government agencies in mission & vision, [...]

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
Jen Stanchfield

Often when we facilitate reflection with groups, we make time after the experience or lesson is completed to review and reflect. Many educators describe their reflective practice with groups as “debriefing”—a word that originated in the military for the act of eliciting a report from a soldier [...]

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 play to help learners build decision-making, and conflict resolution skills. I have emphasized that educators can intentionally “weave in” opportunities for groups to practice these skills throughout their day- to-day lessons. Processing discussions [...]

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 entry my colleague Kristen reminded me to share my funny “success” story from using this method with students in an elementary school:
I was working with a 2nd grade classroom [...]

The Disappearance of Neighborhood Games of Kick-the Can, Part Two: Strategies for Helping Participants of All Ages Learn Through Play.

 
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 of time for “free [...]

In my work with students in a variety of schools and treatment programs I have noticed over recent years that they increasingly seem to struggle with group decision- making. I often observe students on the playground during recess coming to ask teachers for help in resolving even the simplest disagreements or conflicts. They often depend [...]

Jen Stanchfield’s Upcoming Workshops Designed for Advisory Group Leaders:
Advisory group leaders report that they are always looking for new ideas for facilitating advisory sessions with students. Many educators are planning for the remaining few months of school, summer programs and the start of next school year. The Chewonki Foundation in Wiscasset Maine and the [...]