Details on some of the Discovery Package Components

The Emotionally Intelligent Classroom – Using the Discovery EI Blueprint. - An overview of emotional intelligence and its impact on performance, concentrating in particular, on motivation, positivity and emotional self management. This one day programme also offers practical tools and strategies for enhancing EI in the classroom. Suitable for all staff.

Effective Communication and Conflict Resolution Techniques – Far too often poor communication skills create disharmony and destructive atmospheres in classrooms, and playgrounds. This half day programme offers a comprehensive understanding of the communication process and some well proven strategies for helping both adults and children choose their words with care and actively listen in any conversations they may have, for a win win outcome.

Limbering Up for Learning – Getting into the right mental state for using your brain well, is as important for the pupils in your classes as much as it is for any athlete before a race. This two hour workshop looks at some of the strategies used successfully in the world of sport and business, such as creative visualization and affirmation, and shows how they can be used with equal impact in the classroom. A further two hour follow-on workshop is also offered to cover further techniques if required.

The Three R’s for Staff – Revive, Restore and Revitalize. Staff in schools give 100 per cent in their daily work, but all too often forget, or do not make time to give to themselves. As a result stress can build, tempers can become frayed and, as the immune system becomes depleted, illness becomes a very real threat. This whole or half day programme, is aimed at all staff, be they teachers, LSA’s or Supervisory Assistants. It gives a time out to focus on nurturing, celebration, and the building blocks of emotional intelligence. As a result staff will feel restored, energized and positive.

The Emotionally Intelligent Coach - Coaching is a powerful vehicle for enabling individuals, be they children or staff, to gain personal insights into what may be hindering the development of their potential. It also offers an opportunity for recognition and the celebration of success and achievement. It is based on the premise that asked the right reflective questions, in a safe atmosphere, people have an understanding of both the problems and the possible solutions to those problems within themselves. This training can be offered in a variety of ways to suit your schedule so can be in the form of inset, breakfast briefings, ‘twilights’ and/or workshops.

The A to Z of Employability – When your pupils finally leave full time education, they will need more than their academic qualifications to truly succeed in the world of work. Employers are increasingly seeking other qualities and attributes from their employees, including such things as a positive ‘can do’ attitude, assertiveness, teamanship, goal focused, creative thinking, and effective communication skills. This A to Z of employability, endorsed by the business world, offers students a purposeful and practical insight into becoming more employable and more successful in whatever career they may choose.

Positive Impressions, Powerful Presentations – Making that first impression count can make all the difference between an interview that gets you the job or looses it for you. Getting your message across in a meaningful and memorable way is a truly valuable skill. This full day training that covers both areas, can also be offered as two half days and is adapted accordingly to be suitable for adults and Year 10 and 11 upwards.

Soaring Self Esteem – The writer Gloria Steinham once said “Its not that self esteem is everything, it’s just that there is nothing without it.” Low self worth can create such negatives as under performance, victim hood, fear of failure and dysfunctional relationships, so raising levels of self-esteem is the springboard to the road to success that so many pupils lack. Training offered in four specific self esteem programmes aimed at each Key Stage. ‘Delcina the Dolphin’; ‘How to be Happy’; ‘Moving on Up’; ‘WorkSmart’ and ‘Workwise’.

Parents Introductory Session

In the same way that staff have had introductions to E.I. the parents of a school also need a way in. The parent session lasts about an hour and helps the parents to understand what the school is trying to do and why this is so important.

Parents ‘Little Steps’

Having completed a 5 week Parent Emotional Intelligence course, ‘Little Steps’ the feedback from the parents was fantastic. This course is now being offered across the country. The basic idea is to give the parents an introduction to how they can manage and use their emotions in their lives.

The course is designed to last for an initial 5 week run with the opportunity to take the group further with a second ‘Advanced’ course. The course also aims to identify suitable parents to run similar support groups after the course has finished. These parents are then offered extra training and support to do this.

Children’s Workshops

Anger Management – A series of individual or small group sessions, that explore the issues behind anger at school and the consequences of it. The students are then given techniques to take control of their anger.

Stress Management – An increasingly important aspect of our work has been with groups of young people that are suffering from stress. Relaxation techniques and other ways of understanding why and how we suffer from stress are used with the students.

Self-Esteem Workshops – For many students, the issues that can prevent them from reaching their full potential at school are not academic or behavioural. Some children feel that they are not ‘good enough’ and worry that they will fail if they push themselves. These sessions are designed to give such students confidence and self-value that help them to realise their potential.

CardioSense – Biofeedback Stress Management.

Using a computer program and a piece of hardware supplied by Discovery, people are able to see the affect and impact of stress and pressure on their body. A simple technique can then be taught to control and minimize this impact. Further, more advanced techniques are also available using the software.

WorkSmart Peer Coaching Programme.

Students at KS 3 are trained to coach younger students – usually Yr7 or even Yr6 as they start their time at Secondary. Working in partnership with local businesses the programme brings interested adults together to learn how to work with students and give them the skills to be effective coaches. These students then go back into school and work with other students that often need a friendly face and a listening ear.

Enlightening Lunches

By building links with local businesses and other adults that can offer students advice and guidance, The Discovery Project has set up a series of informal lunches (or breakfasts) that put the young people into contact with them. The meal is structured with the students prepared to ask questions about the adult’s career choices and life decisions.

'WorkWise’

Taking the involvement of local business even further, WorkWise gives interested people the opportunity to work with older secondary pupils, preparing them for the world of work. The programme explores such topics as interview techniques, stress management, selling yourself many other areas that young people often find difficult when thinking about their future.

Leadership Training

Managers and leaders across schools and businesses have used the E.I. leadership model to enhance their roles and to improve performance and results in the workplace. E.I. leadership training helps these people to adapt what they are already doing to reflect the ideas and ethos of emotional intelligence. Communication plays an essential part of effective leadership and many techniques for improving this are used as part of the training.

Stress Management Programme

For workers, employers and people of all ages that experience pressure, deadlines, targets – Stress. The programme gives a series of techniques and practical skills to combat the day to day pressures of life. A popular and ‘Hands-On’ course, stress management is rapidly becoming an essential part of the workplace.