Strengthening Early Years to Kindergarten Transitions
SEY2KT 2020-2021
Tools, Practices and Resources
Session One
Setting the Stage
Creating a space that is safe and where participants feel trust and confidence allows the group to negotiate some difficult and potentially conflictual dialogues within that space.
Mindful Practices
Mindfulness has been growing in popularity in western cultures over the last couple of decades. Its roots are in Buddhist mind training traditions more than 2500 years old. Mindfulness is fundamentally about pausing to be present and noticing what is happening, and, through this, responding in a measured and intentionally kind way.
Personal Journey
We all bring our experiences, our passions, our dreams, our values and our assumptions. Bringing these into awareness provides a deeper understanding to our roles and influence as actors in the broader system.
Session Two
Settling & Intention Setting
This is a breath-focused settling and intention setting (3 - 5 minute) guided meditation. There are many ways to undertake this exercise. The key is to provide a mechanism for all to arrive into the session with awareness and intention.
The Check in
Besides giving individuals a voice, this practice can help people to tap into their aspirations and creative orientation and also begin to develop the foundation for a shared vision and understanding.
The Iceberg
The iceberg provides a framework for understanding an entire system and reminding us to not focus solely on a particular problem or event, but to dig deeper.
System Mapping
An essential component of systemic change is a shared understanding of what the system is – its components, its relationships and interconnectedness, its boundaries and its intended outcomes.
Session Three
Perspective Taking
The elephant is a simple tool that serves as a reminder of the importance of acknowledging the limitation of our own perspective and of integrating a diversity of perspectives before taking any action. It is only when they are able to listen to each other’s perspective and knowledge that they are able to emerge a collective understanding.
Levels of Listening
The levels of listening tool is a valuable framework for conceptualizing how you can progress to more generative and transformative conversations. It sits within a larger conceptual framework called Theory U.
Ladder of Inference
The ladder is a useful tool to help us all understand how quickly we jump to conclusions and interpret the world around us based on our biases and history of experience. Going “up the ladder” happens very quickly in our head and we are typically unaware of the escalating processes that may be leading us to an incorrect conclusion and subsequent action based on that conclusion.
Mindful Listening and Speaking
The practice of mindful listening and speaking helps us develop a practice of more conscious communication. In this process, reflection before conversation helps us prepare our thoughts. And learning to listen without judgement or interpretation allows us to be truly present, and hear what others think, feel and sense.
Session Four
Self-compassion
Self-compassion is: the ability to notice our own suffering, discomfort or pain; to see this on the context of common humanity and how others are connected to us through a shared experience; and our own willingness show ourselves the same kindness that we would a good friend or loved one.
Compassion Cultivation
As we build our capacity for self-compassion, so we also build our capability to feel and express compassion for others in a sustainable way. It is a foundational skill to be able to host and progress courageous and system changing conversations and actions.
Creative Tension
The practice of Creative Tension involves learning to hold both an individual or collective vision and a clear picture of the current reality.
Collective Visioning
Like the personal visioning exercise, a process of building shared aspiration/or vision amongst our collective is essential. This aspiration guides collective planning, and is grounded on a foundation of personal visions and aspirations.
Session Five
Review of Compassionate Systems Leadership Tools
A complete repository of the tools and skills that we use in our CSL approach.
Integrated CSL Framework
The Integrated CSL Frame provides a comprehensive way to think about and to build transformational strategies. It outlines four main domains of action that need to be held in balance and tension as you unfold your CSL activities. All four are critical to a complete CSL approach. And all of the other CSL tools and practices are woven through and support them all.
