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Optimistic Closure EXAMPLES
Optimistic Closure EXAMPLES
One Takeaway I’m Going to Try Time: 3-5 minutes
One Takeaway I’m Going to Try Time: 3-5 minutes
Overview: Participants are asked to consider and name a take away—an idea, strategy, tool, action step— that they want to try out. When and Why: Students or participants are often presented with a variety of ideas, strategies, and tools, with the implicit understanding that they will use one or more of the "takeaways." This activity invites participant to explicitly connect their learning to their practice and encourages ownership and responsibility by taking action. SEL Focus: This activity focuses on developing skills in Self-Management (Organizational Skills, Goal-Setting) as participants are asked to set a personal goal and Relationship Skills(Recognizing and Using Supports) when the accountability partnerships are used. Steps: 1. Ask participants to reflect on what they have heard and learned, then ask, "Thinking about what you heard and learned today, what is one takeaway you want to try, and why? A takeaway can be an idea, a strategy, a tool, or an action step." 2. Give participants a minute of silent think time. Debrief by pairing participants and setting a timer for one or two minutes for each person to share their takeaway and thinking with their partner. If time permits, invite several participants to share their own takeaway and thinking (not their partner’s) with the whole group.
Suit Yourself
Suit Yourself
Participants reflect on and then share valued takeaways from the experience using playing card suits as a focus area.
Steps: 1. Randomly pass out a playing card to each participant. Each suit describes a category of responses: • Hearts: Something from the heart. How did you feel? What did it mean to you? • Clubs: Things that grew—new ideas, new thoughts, a new point of view. • Diamonds: Gems that last forever. What are some of the gems of wisdom gathered from people or content? • Spades: Used to dig in the garden. Generate conversation about planting new ideas or things participants dug up during class. 2. Give one minute of quiet time for each participant to jot down (or think about) their answer. Debrief using one of the following: • Ask for one volunteer from each ‘suit’ to stand and share their response. Do not comment during the sharing. • Ask participants to turn to a neighbor and share their response. • Invite each participant to answer aloud to you as they walk out door or hand in their written response as an exit ticket.
Examples provided by CASEL - Click to view their 3 Signature Practices - Playbook
Welcoming/Inclusion Activity Name and Motion Adapted from Engaging Schools Time: 5-7 minutes (depending on the number of people)
Welcoming/Inclusion Activity Name and Motion Adapted from Engaging Schools Time: 5-7 minutes (depending on the number of people)
Overview: Participants stand in a circle and interact to learn each other’s names and activities they enjoy. When and Why: Use “Name and Motion” when a new group is coming together. It will help participants learn names and get to know a little bit about one another—a great way to begin building relationships. SEL Focus: This activity helps develop the Self-Awareness skill Recognizing Strengths as participants identify an activity they enjoy, and the Social Awareness skill Appreciating Diversity as they learn more about one another’s interests and talents. Steps: 1. Explain that our purpose is to learn names and get to know more about one another. 2. Invite the group to form a circle. 3. Offer instructions: • Participants will take turns saying their own name while making a motion that represents something they enjoy doing. • Each participant in turn will repeat the names and gestures of those who have gone before, and then will add their own name and gesture. 4. Model with your name and motion, e.g., "I'm Sara and I like to play basketball.” (Pretend to throw a ball towards a hoop.) 5. Check for understanding, then ask the person to your right to begin. Model by repeating their name and demonstrating their motion. 6. If someone can't remember a name or motion, invite them to ask someone in the circle for help and to thank that person for their assistance. Debrief by asking one or more of these questions: • “Why it is important to know each other’s names?” • “What was it like to for you to participate in this?” • “Were there any surprises?” • “What's something you had in common with someone?” • “What is something several people in the group had in common?” Modifications and Variations: Instead of using a gesture, say the name of the activity. This may be a modification for individuals for whom gestures are challenging or as a variation for a fresh approach when the activity is repeated another day.
Example provided by CASEL - Click to view their 3 Signature Practices - Playbook
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