A fun, interactive presentation that details the theory behind active learning and why it works with students. Discover teaching strategies which help students retain up to 90% of what they learn and see research that shows active learning can increase learning by up to 68%. The audience will be active participants in this presentation. Depending on time, a number of activities will be conducted during the presentation.

Audience: General educators (*Group size: unlimited)

An entertaining, hands-on presentation that details the theory behind active learning and how it applies to teaching students life skills such as communication, goal-setting, self-esteem, problem solving, decision making, substance abuse, values, stress management, anger management, violence prevention, working together and more. Active learning is a valuable teaching tool that everyone who works with children and youth need in their toolbox. An introduction to hands-on activities that teach life skills in such a way as to actually change behavior and attitudes not just head knowledge. This educational approach has worked with at-risk as well as gifted students, inner city as well as rural groups and elementary as well as secondary kids.

Audience: Who should attend one of Tom’s trainings? Here is just a partial list: elementary teachers, secondary teachers (especially those who work in the fields of health, home economics, physical education, adult roles, psychology, advisory period, careers, character education and others who teach life skills), counselors, prevention workers, violence/gang workers, student assistance staff, conflict mediation, nurses, Title I staff, at risk/high risk programs, peer helper leaders, after school programs, enrichment programs, and others who address life skills. (*Group Size: Unlimited)

This popular workshop has been conducted as a breakout session during conferences or as a stand alone training for various school districts and organizations. Depending on the length of the workshop a number of topics can be addressed. These can include the theory of active learning, the actual activities themselves and how to process the activity after it has been conducted. Tom has published over 140 activities. These address a full range of life skills such as communication, goal-setting, self-esteem, problem solving, decision making, substance abuse, values, stress management, anger management, violence prevention, working together and more. Various activities will be presented during the workshop along with how to process each of the activities. In addition to talking about how these activities could be processed, general processing strategies can also be addressed.

Audience: Teachers who address life skills in their classes (health, home economics, physical education, adult roles, psychology, advisory period, careers, character education, and others) youth workers, after school programs, counselors, at-risk and high risk programs, Title I, Career Education, Character Education, violence/gang workers, student assistance staff, conflict mediation, peer helper leaders, enrichment programs, etc. (*Group size: 20-100)

An activity is just a game unless you can apply it to the lives of the participants. This workshop addresses such topics as: The best questions to ask, The questions not to ask, Discussion formats that maximize participation, How to transition from talking about the activity to real life application, What is the leader’s role, When to end the discussion, etc. During the workshop the attendees will experience some activities and participate in various types of discussion formats. Depending on the length of the workshop, they will also take turns leading a discussion.

Audience: Teachers who address life skills in their classes (health, home economics, physical education, adult roles, psychology, advisory period, careers, character education, and others) youth workers, after school programs, counselors, at-risk and high risk programs, Title I, Career Education, Character Education, violence/gang workers, student assistance staff, conflict mediation, peer helper leaders, enrichment programs, etc. (*Group size: 15-50)