Workshops
Interactive experiences, where participants learn by doing rather than listening, workshops can range from two hours to two days and can be combined with keynotes for a deeper understanding. Scroll down for details and examples.
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Workshops can be tailored to any age group - pre-k and kindergarten, early elementary, upper elementary or the teen years.
Creating a Community of Care and Belonging through Play
Play is how children engage with, explore and discover the world around them. So how can play be anything other than vitally important in a child’s life? But as a culture and in education we have moved away from a play-based childhood, and it has had a devastating impact on the mental health of young people of all ages.1​
Come and explore how play can help create a more caring culture where everyone feels a sense of belonging.
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This training focuses on the challenges in modern education - due to the loss of a play-based way of being - and what we can do about it. Through play of endless varieties (including well-led social play, free play, imaginative play, and full body play) we will explore how play is one of the fastest and most direct ways to build relational trust. We will also explore the concepts and skills of progressive risk taking and how this meets the social and emotional needs of children so they can feel safe and engaged and willing to take risks.
Any learning environment that truly sparks curiosity and learning needs to be one where everyone feels safe and connected. A true feeling of belonging. Key to this is providing just the right amount of engaged play.
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You’ll leave this fun, interactive workshop with new tools and activities designed to engage all ages of students. Learn the fundamental neuroscience, behavior management, and play leadership skills necessary to create a true community of care where each student can reach their full potential.
“Thank you so much for an incredible first training! The whole staff was a-buzz the next day. Everyone was coming up to me to tell me what games they had already added into their day and how great everyone's day was going! My principal said it was the best training he's ever brought in and is so excited to keep working with you! Morale is UP so much!“
- Lainie Oshtag – Jericho Elementary School
Building Relational Trust and Connection through Play
To be ready to learn, students of any age need to feel they belong. One of the fastest and most direct ways to create belonging, connection and relational trust is through engaged play. Screen time, academic pressures, pandemic realities, and our fast-paced culture make it challenging to find the time to play that everyone needs. Jonathan Haidt in the recent book The Anxious Generation, makes a compelling case for the need for more play of all kinds: free play, wild play, nature play, and more.
Play, for all ages of students, is an active and real way for students to feel and express their joy and is also a remarkable tool for emotional regulation and learning effective social skills.
In this highly experiential and laughter-filled workshop, you’ll learn energizers, cooperative games, social play and active games to remind you that engagement and play can be interwoven throughout the educational process and how important the philosophy of progressive risk-taking is in creating a community of care. Howard’s emphasis will be the use of simple theater games. With extensive experience using improv theater for creating connection and engagement, he makes it easily accessible for everyone regardless of any previous theater or improv experience.
“Howard’s workshop was one of the most impactful experiences we’ve offered. It reinforced how purposeful play builds classroom culture, supports SEL, and helps reach even our hardest-to-reach students.”
- Julie White Jefferson-Lewis BOCES
Restorative Communication - The Language of Connection
Effective communication, expressing our needs, and understanding our emotions are vital skills to learn in life. When communication breaks down and intense emotions are present, having the skills to self-regulate, to identify feelings, and engaging in collaborative problem-solving are critical. These skills are the heart of restorative communication.
Our emotions are wonderful guideposts about needs being met or not met. Adults benefit from learning these essential communication skills and modeling empathy for young people.
This workshop will be an overview of non-violent communication, conscious communication and the emotional responsibility communication modalities. Additionally, we will use the PAIR UP model developed by Annie O’Shaughnessy from the Starling Collaborative, a restorative practices training organization, as our guidepost.
“Thank you so much, Howard. You and Annie are perfect together and in 18 years of teaching, that was easily the best, and most influential day of PD that I have attended.”
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- Ben Parker, Restorative Practices Teacher.
The Yes Brain - How teaching the Basic Principles of Neuroscience Helps Kids Succeed
Based on the work of Dr Dan Siegel and the book The Yes Brain, a key component of this workshop will be how sharing basic neuroscience with students helps them understand their brains and how to be in the balanced state of the “Yes Brain.” The Yes Brain skills of Balance. Resilience, Insight and Empathy are skills that can be learned and modeled.
A yes brain is flexible and curious, willing to try new things, and even make mistakes. A yes brain is open to the world and relationships, helping us relate to others and understand ourselves. A no brain is reactive and fearful, rigid and shut down, worrying that it might make a mistake.
This presentation is engaging and experiential. I’ve taught improv theater for years, where the fundamental principle is to say “Yes And,” so together we will enter our own Yes Brain state of optimism, curiosity, trust, flexibility, insight and empathy and have fun, too.
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Anyone looking for tools on behavior management and aligning with trauma-informed practices will benefit from this engaging presentation. ​