At Northfield Mount Hermon, the New England boarding school where I teach, we often begin all-school meetings with a few words of reflection or provocation and then a minute of silence to sit with what we’ve heard. At the beginning of each academic year, when the community re-forms anew, we sometimes decide to open the [more…]
First Idea: Forego or Follow?
I heard several provocative guidelines for excellent design when our Applied Improvisation group toured Stanford’s graduate Institute of Design (d-School). One principle stood in particular contrast with a foundational tenet of improvisational theater. Now, a day later, I still find myself trying to make sense of the tension: should we follow a ‘first idea’ or [more…]
Some Questions About Praise, Performance, and Privilege
Offering praise for inborn talent feeds a fixed mindset that can create self-doubt, weaken resolve, and reduce resiliency. In short, it can cripple a student’s ability to learn. Does that mean we should never celebrate God-given gifts?
Helping Goldilocks Grow
When designing ideal conditions for learning, we do well to consider the case of Goldilocks. If we make a lesson too difficult, our learner may shut down in frustration. Make it too easy and the learner walks away in boredom. In between those two poles lies a “Just Right” moment, a learning location that both fits and stretches.
Spontaneity School: 10 Improv Games to Develop Courage, Compassion and Creativity
Use improv games to develop mindful presence–for groups and for you. Check out the new Playful Mindfulness book! And for “a curious romp through the worlds of mindfulness and improvisation, subscribe to the Monster Baby podcast by clicking here! It’s that time of year. Parents have plucked the back-to-school aisles clean and have watched their [more…]
Three Faces of V (as in Venice)
Like any one us, the city of Venice includes at least three sides: the shiny face she wants to have seen; an unsavory underbelly; and a realistic working element. Getting to know the real Venice—like getting to know the real students or colleagues we work with every day—means making simultaneous sense of all three.
Some good news!
Just this week, TED WORDS received its first nomination for a blogging award!
Pathos Behind the Pounce
Aggressive salesmen can sully the best of romantic, city-wandering moods. But compassion can overcome that obnoxiousnessness.
Green Oasis
Finding the right restaurant when you’ve got dietary restrictions can prove challenging. Doing so when you’ve got two people—with different limitations—can get downright daunting. Occasionally, though, fortune’s smile drives away all clouds and serves up a delicious dinner where there had only been despair. Le Grenier de Notre Dame in Paris offered one such delight. [more…]
The Past a la Veronese
We had never met Luca Canever before, but a delightful gem of a man fell into our laps. His layers of historical knowledge gave us multi-faceted insight into Italian history and showed us something new about ourselves.
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