About the Teach For Life! Educator's Institute
| Teach for Life! Educator's Institute is a 5-day residential training for school teachers, administrators, counselors, and homeschool parents, where we co-create a supportive, dynamic learning community based in the consciousness and practices of Nonviolent Communication. The nonresidential 5-day workshop for educators includes the same curriculum. |
Imagine our young people empowered with vision, hope and effective tools for creating peace. Imagine schools where young people learn, along with Reading, 'Riting, and 'Rithmetic, the fourth vital "r", Relationships, practicing how to communicate honestly and compassionately and resolve conflicts nonviolently. Imagine our schools and classrooms as safe and caring communities, fostering understanding, respect and cooperation, Imagine young people, our future leaders, with the skills necessary to create organizations, businesses, governments, and a world where everyone's needs matter and can be met.
This is the dream that launched the first NVC Educators Institute in Olympia, Washington, in the summer of 2001 and the one that has kept us putting on Institutes each summer since. The first Educators Institute was sponsored by CNVC's Education Project (2000-2002) and received financial support for team meetings and teacher scholarships from New Earth Foundation, Threshold Foundation and individuals throughout the CNVC network.
A volunteer team of 10-20 CNVC trainers and teachers collaborated on the design and facilitation of the first Institute and met with 25 teachers from various parts of the U.S. to immerse ourselves in processes and activities that deepen the consciousness of Nonviolent Communication and that strengthen the vital skills of relationship and peacemaking. The five days were filled with learning through play, movement, music, deep sharing, and laughter and at the end, teachers returned home with new hope, new and sharpened tools, and a network of support they can call upon throughout the school year.
In 2005 a core team of 5 CNVC trainers: Sura Hart, Jean Morrison, Sylvia Haskvitz, John Cunningham, and Fred Sly dedicated themselves to expanding capacity to serve educators and others desiring trainings for specific topics and for advanced trainings.
In 2009 Sura Hart and Jean Morrison continued as a team to provide Teach for Life Educators Institutes for educators and learning communities. Joining them for each 5-day residential retreat; and 5-day non-residential training are a support team of 3-5 teachers and former graduates of Teach for Life events.
Teach for Life! Educator's Institute is a 5-day training for school teachers, administrators, counselors, and homeschool parents, where we co-create a supportive, dynamic learning community based in the consciousness and practices of Nonviolent Communication. The nonresidential 5-day workshop for educators includes the same curriculum. Participants learn to:
- Live from a consciousness of compassion with yourself and others
- Practice Nonviolent Communication with students and colleagues
- Shift from managing students’ behavior to nurturing respectful, caring relationships in the classroom
- Implement a “No-fault Classroom” curriculum
- Inspire engaged learning
- Demonstrate leadership in your school community
- Resolve conflict peacefully and teach your students to do the same
Here are some comments from teachers who have attended past Educators Institutes:
"I am writing from a place of deep gratitude after returning from the Educators Institute. My needs for learning, connection, hope and inspiration were met in a profound way; I so appreciate the many opportunities to learn through a variety of styles."
"I learned a new way to communicate and connect with kids. I got to connect with a group of people like never before. The five days were full to the brim of learning and "a-ha" moments. It was truly heart and mind opening."
"The Educators Institute was the first time I experienced unconditional love and acceptance. Before that, I didn't really know what I was searching for. Now I do."
"I'm a kindergarten/first grade teacher and I've been using NVC in the classroom for several years. I went to the Educators' Institute for the first time last year and found it exciting and very satisfying. The work we did at the end in small, self-selected groups (using the tools we'd learned to identify things we could do that would move us forward in line with our vision ) gave a jump-start to my year."
"The greatest gift I received was spending several days with other giraffes seeking to become more nonviolent. I took that understanding with me into the classroom this year - didn't teach much NVC except needs and feelings vocabulary - and yesterday, ended the year feeling deeply gratified about having had the most enriching relationship experience with third graders ever."
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