- Common practical issues that children may face when starting a new school (such as finding classrooms, locker combinations, navigating the school layout, etc.)

- Strategies for helping your child with these practical issues (such as walking through the school together, labeling school supplies, etc.)

- Tips for building your child's confidence and helping them adjust to their new school environment

Introduce the topic of practical issues and how they can impact a child's transition to a new school. Give a brief overview of the course material and learning objectives.

Ask parents to share their own experiences of starting a new school or helping their child start a new school. What practical issues did they or their child face? How did they address these issues? Encourage parents to share any tips or strategies they found helpful.

Ask parents to brainstorm common practical issues that children may face when starting a new school. Write these issues on a whiteboard or flipchart.

Searching for a solution – 3 ways of listening

When you have a huge discussion in a group, it is time to move to a personal level to search for a solution. Give a few minutes for participant to consider 1-3 ideas which might help improve or solve the problematic situation. When participants had written down their solutions, split the group in teams of 3 members.

Present them 3 roles as 3 ways of listening which they will need to use by rotation:

-          First role. The SPEAKER. The SPEAKER's role is to share his ideas and answer the questions of QUESTIONER. Speaker will have 10 minutes to share his ideas and search for the solution.

-          Second role. The QUESTIONER. Questioner role is to help the speaker to dive deeper searching for solutions by asking open questions. It is really important that the Questioner would not be sharing his opinion. His role is to help express SPEAKER’s point of you about the solution he sees. As well, it is really important that the questions are OPEN, avoid questions with yes / no answers. The questioner role stays for 10 minutes while speaker is sharing.

 -          Third role. The LISTENER. Listener’s role is to observe the deeper meanings: spectate the conversation between the Questioner and the Speaker. Listener’s goal is to notice what was unsaid by reading body languages, identifying specific words used in the sharing process. After 10 minutes LISTENER gets 3 minutes to share what he had notice in conversation. At this point the Speaker and the Questioner only need to listen without interruption and accept what was reflected. It is not the time for further discussion.

After the first round (13 minutes) it's time to move in a circle and change the roles. Participants are recommended to move physically and change their sitting positions. For example, listener moves to speaker seat, speaker moves to questioner seat and questioner moves to listener seat. When everyone has changed their positions, it is time to begin the process again. Repeat it one more time, so everyone would have a chance to participate in different roles. At the end ask in teams of 3 to reflect their experience. You might suggest to discuss in these questions:

-          Which one role was most convenient for me? And which one was the hardest? Why?

-          What kind of similarities have I found? What was common in our group?

-          What kind of solution could we find as a group? What would be the key point?

After the reflection ask participants to share in a big group the third question result – what kind of solutions have they found as a group? What kind of agreements have they reached?

This method allows participants to gain understanding, that communication is not only about speaking, but much more about active listening without having personal bias.

Further reading: 

The valuable information about the essence of active listening: https://positivepsychology.com/active-listening/

Extra tips for practicing active listening: https://www.mindtools.com/CommSkll/ActiveListening.htm

Working together as a group, discuss strategies for addressing each practical issue. Encourage parents to share any tips or strategies they have found helpful in the past. Write these strategies down next to each practical issue on the whiteboard or flipchart.

Divide parents into pairs or small groups and ask them to role-play different scenarios involving practical issues at a new school. For example, one parent can play the role of the child, while the other parent plays the role of the teacher or school administrator. Encourage parents to practice using the strategies they identified in the previous activity.

The World Café is a method used to facilitate conversations in large groups of people. It is designed to encourage participants to share their ideas and perspectives on a particular topic. Parents could arrange an ivent where they talk with children on their issues, that they currently face in school. Here's how it works:

1. Set up tables: Arrange tables and chairs in a way that encourages small groups to form. You should have at least one table for every four to six participants. On each table, provide paper, pens, and any other materials that may be needed.
2. Introduce the topic: Start by introducing the topic that you want to discuss. This could be anything from a current event to a specific problem that needs solving. Make sure that the participants understand the purpose of the discussion and the guidelines for participation.
3. Assign a facilitator: Each table should have a designated facilitator who will lead the discussion. This person should be responsible for keeping the conversation on track and ensuring that everyone has a chance to participate.

4. Begin the first round: Set a time limit of 15-20 minutes and begin the first round of discussion. Each participant should introduce themselves and share their thoughts on the topic. Encourage everyone to listen actively to each other and to build on each other's ideas.
5. Rotate the groups: After the first round of discussion, participants should move to a new table. The facilitator at each table should briefly summarize the discussion from the previous round before starting a new one. This ensures that the ideas and perspectives are shared across the group.
6. Continue the rounds: Repeat the process for as many rounds as necessary. Encourage participants to build on the ideas and insights that were shared in previous rounds.
7. Share insights: After the final round, bring everyone back together to share the insights and ideas that were generated during the World Café. This can be done in a large group discussion or through a more structured reporting-out process.

Overall, the World Café method is a powerful way to encourage participation and collaboration in large groups. It can be used in a variety of settings, from business meetings to community events, to facilitate meaningful conversations and generate new ideas.

Summarize the key points of the module, including common practical issues children may face when starting a new school and strategies for helping them navigate these issues. Encourage parents to use these strategies to help their child feel more confident and comfortable in their new school environment.