Building a Better World Through Intentional Connection Written By: Jim Grout In my book, When In Doubt… Give Them Your Heart I define connection as the essential starting point for all our work. I also pose the question; “How do you intentionally create space for connection?” On June 18, 2026, the Obama Presidential Center held […]
Category: Classroom Learning (EOL/SEL)
The Power of Our Work in a Vulnerable Time
The Power of Our Work in a Vulnerable Time Thoughtfully Written By: Ryan McCormick Our work is about the young people in front of us. Right now. And that matters, because teaching leadership when the world feels scary, harmful, and often the complete opposite of what we stand for is not easy. It brings up […]
Developing an Emotional Vocabulary
Developing an Emotional Vocabulary A Resource to Help Navigate Your Emotions More Facilitation Resources Let’s Talk About Emotions It’s powerful stuff, the connection between emotions and learning. The sheer number of emotions we experience daily, down to the minute, can be mind-boggling. As experiential educators, we think about emotions often, and how they impact learning […]
Unlocking Emotional Intelligence: An Innovative Resource for Students and Adults
Emotions By High 5® Unlocking Emotional Intelligence: An Innovative Resource for Students and Adults Introducing Emotions by High 5 How are you feeling today? It’s a typical question in the neighborhood of daily conversation at school, at work, at home, etc. Yet our ability to name our feelings and emotions, at any age, can be […]
Put on the Brakes in Class with Brain Breaks
Put on the Brakes in Class with Brain Breaks Put on the Brakes in Class with Brain Breaks What do humans and sea slugs have in common? The fact is they both learn better when acquiring knowledge in speedy bursts, rather than marathons. This leads to the next question: What can we do to facilitate […]
The Gift of Adventure Learning
The Gift of Adventure Learning Our Staff Shares Stories of Connection and Empowerment Connect.Empower.Lead. Be the Example. High 5’s motto is about change–changing lives, changing attitudes, changing abilities, and discovering aptitudes. It’s about finding our better self and discovering the power that comes with giving that self a voice, of giving ourselves the empowerment of […]
Building Stronger Groups: Lessons from Google to the Classroom
Building Stronger Groups Building Stronger Groups: Lessons from Google to the Classroom Learning From A Google Experiment Google had a question that was puzzling even their experts: why did some of their project teams perform well beyond expectations while others could barely meet their goals? Some of the highest performing teams at Google had a […]
How Do We Support Student Growth When Mental Wellbeing Is In Flux?
How Do We Support Student Growth When Mental Wellbeing Is In Flux? How to Connect, Empower, Lead When Times are Tough By Jim Grout At High 5, the key concepts of Connect – Empower – Lead are inherent in our philosophy and practice. The charts below include the behaviors we feel are crucial in order […]
Supporting Student Mental Wellbeing
Supporting Student Mental Wellbeing Letting Go Of Stress Through Play By Jim Grout Does anyone else feel mentally and emotionally challenged and exhausted? Survey after survey (see First Book Report below), as well as conversations with teachers and students, repeatedly remind us of the frayed and fragile state of student mental health in and out […]
Why Incorporate SEL in Your School?
Why Incorporate SEL in Your School? Impact of SEL in Schools: A Superintendent’s Perspective Q&A with Robb Malay, Superintendent of School Administrative Unit (SAU) 29 in New Hampshire Bring Social-Emotional Learning To the Forefront of Education It’s no secret that developing social intelligence in children, adolescents and adults is the very best way to establish […]