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LVE
Educator Training
Wherever possible educators are recommended to attend Living Values courses
that enable them to experience the activities in the books for themselves. This helps them
to understand more deeply the role values play in their own life and to learn skills to create a
values-based atmosphere.
A teacher from the Kuwait American School
shares her Peace Puppet during the LVE training.
LVE has a cadre of trainers on every continent. They are a unusual group of people -
professional, dedicated and committed to "living the values." LVE trainers volunteer
their time to promote the understanding of values education and to help others explore the
underpinnings of, and the skills to develop, a values-based atmosphere. Part of
LVE educator excellence is viewed as modeling the values, respecting student opinions, and
empowering children and young adults to enjoy learning and implementing values
projects.
There are a variety of LVE workshops and seminars around the world. LVE Training
is recommended in order to implement the program most effectively -- and help children
and youth, and ourselves, move toward "living values" successfully.
Six Kinds of LVE Workshops for a Variety of Needs
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LVE Educator Workshops are conducted most frequently. They are designed for:
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Educators in Formal Settings ? teachers, professors, counselors and psychologists
in pre-schools, primary schools, secondary schools and universities; and
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Non-Formal Educators ? day care center providers, youth workers, girl and boy
guide/scout leaders, etc.
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LVE Parent Facilitator Workshops are designed for parent group facilitators. Often,
experienced parent group facilitators take the LVE Educator Workshop along with a
few additional sessions about the Living Values Parent Group process.
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LVE Train-the-Trainer Sessions are for those who wish to become LVE
trainers.
Participants should be professional educators; teachers, teacher trainers, education
officials and psychologists who already have existing skills in training adults or
facilitation groups. Ideally, they will have already taken a LVE Educator Workshop
and used Living Values Activities with children and/or young adults.
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LVE Training for Refugees and Children Affected by War is designed for teachers
working in schools or refugee camps with children affected by war.
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LVE Training for Children Affected by Earthquakes is designed for educators
working in areas recently affected by earthquakes.
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LVE Training for Street Children is designed for street educators and agencies
caring for street children.
Describe a LVE Educator Workshop
LVE workshops and seminars are participatory. Participants are asked to reflect on
their own values, offer their ideas on elements within a values-based atmosphere, and
imagine an optimal classroom environment. Participants are divided into small groups to
discuss best teaching practices. What methods allow us to create a values-based
atmosphere in which all students can feel respected, valued, understood, loved and safe?
After they share their ideas, LVE's theoretical model and the rationale behind the
variety of values activities are presented. The workshop then turns to skills for creating a
values-based environment. In longer trainings this includes: acknowledgement,
encouragement, and positively building behaviors; active listening; conflict resolution;
collaborative rule making; and values-based discipline. These sessions are intermingled
with small group sessions in which participants take part in Living Values Activities for
children and youth.
LVE Educator Seminars range from two to four days. Four day workshops are highly
recommended for adults not familiar with conflict resolution and/or child-centered,
participatory teaching methods.
Describe a LVE Parent Facilitator Workshop
LVE Parent Facilitator Workshops are designed for parent group facilitators. Often,
experienced parent group facilitators take the LVE Educator Workshop along with a
few additional sessions about the Living Values Parent Group process. Many of the
activities they will do with parents are taken from the Living Values Activities books
while some of the parenting skills are similar to those taught during the Educator
Workshop but made applicable to parents. In the additional sessions they become
familiar with the structure and process in Living Values Parent Groups: A Facilitator
Guide and a few parent group sessions are simulated.
Describe a LVE Train-the-Trainer Session
A LVE TTT provides the opportunity for participants to see and experience the exact
sessions involved in a regular LVE Educator Workshop. Additionally, the
LVE Educator Training Guide is introduced and the rationale underpinning the training
process is explained. Other sessions include the theoretical background of
LVE,
research which supports values/character and LVE at the international level. TTTs are
usually five days in length. The brevity of the training does not allow for development of
facilitator skills.
Describe a LVE Training for Refugees and Children Affected by War
LVE offers training to refugee teachers to implement Living Values Activities for
Refugees and Children Affected by War (LVARCAW). It is essential that educators
receive this training prior to doing the program with children.
LVE training for the LVARCAW program begins with a welcome, the purposes of the
program, and introductory activities. Teachers are asked about their concerns, and in
light of previous discussions with organizers, the program is shared in relationship to
their particular circumstances. Teachers then participate in values awareness sessions.
Sessions on active listening take place early in the training, and continue almost every
day. The educators discuss the teaching methods and attitudes that create a learning
environment in which students feel loved, valued, respected, understood and safe.
Teachers are then engaged in several activities that are in both LVARCAW and regular
Living Values activities for children. LVE's theoretical model and the rationale behind
the variety of values activities are presented. The goals of the LVARCAW program are
read together.
Several days into the program, Living Values activities that deal with war in the
LVARCAW unit are introduced. The teachers are divided into small groups. They
participate in some of the activities, are told about others, and teach the activities by the
end of the training. It is important for all of the teachers to go through the lessons to
understand how the process works, not just intellectually but emotionally. While this
model is not that of a "talking cure," it allows people to express their feelings about war
and those who are missing or have died. Hence, some of the sessions can be emotional or
elicit emotions. The activities are designed with supportive elements and participants
engage in expressive activities through drawing, puppets, sharing, relaxation/focusing
exercises, and traditional songs. In one of the activities, factors leading to war are
discussed; participants real concerns are engaged. The training provides additional
sessions to develop skills for creating a values-based environment. This includes
acknowledgement, encouragement, and positively building behaviors, conflict resolution,
collaborative rule making, and values-based discipline.
This training for refugee teachers lasts two weeks. Follow-up sessions are recommended.
If there is a need for this training in your country or region, please contact the
LVE Content and Training Office at content@livingvalues.net
Describe a LVE Training for Children Affected by Earthquakes
LVE offers training to educators in areas recently affected by earthquakes. Like the
LVE training for educators of children affected by war and street children, the use of
this special module is limited to educators who receive training. This training
incorporates the elements of the regular LVE Educator Workshop, and adds sessions to
build skills and practice activities to help children cope with their fears and possible loss,
and increase adaptive skills. The lessons provide a forum for children to discuss their
feelings, learn that their reactions are normal responses to a difficult situation, and
develop skills to help them cope. This training is a minimum of five days.
Describe a LVE Training for Street Children
LVE offers a special training to street educators and agencies caring for street children.
This training incorporates the elements of the regular LVE Educator Workshop and
adds sessions to build skills and do the activities particular to this special unit. These
materials contain adapted living values activities on peace, respect, love and cooperation
and a series of stories about a street children family. The stories serve as a medium to
educate about and to discuss issues related to domestic violence, death, AIDS, drug
sellers, drugs, sexual abuse and physical abuse. The stories are combined with
discussions, activities, and the development of positive adaptive social and emotional
skills. This training is a minimum of six days.
Cost
LVE trainers volunteer their time to lead these seminars and workshops. In most
countries, hosting organizations pay the cost of trainer travel expenses and any on-site
expenses. Sometimes participants are charged a small fee to cover the costs of materials
and the venue. In developing countries, LVE sometimes helps to fund materials. In
developed countries, individuals and organizations sometimes donate funds to
LVE.
How Can I Contact An LVE Trainer?
Contact your country coordinator at the name of your country@livingvalues.net. If your
country is not listed on the "Support Near
You" page, contact the Living Values Education Coordinator of a nearby country or training@livingvalues.net
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