Touchstones Discussion Project Inc

Programs: K-12 schools, after school, workforce development, and teacher professional development: touchstones provides professional development training that teaches educators to guide and empower students through direct engagement, differentiate instruction based on individual students' strengths and challenges, and become leaders among educators. To foster optimal implementations and outcomes, touchstones provides professional development training that teaches educators the touchstones discussion method through direct experience. Touchstones' interactive workshops at three levels (introductory, intermediate, and advanced) help teachers to learn strategies for discussion, to examine and devise solutions to issues in discussion dynamics, to practice associated discussion activities central to the touchstones method, to tailor lessons to their students' needs, to measure student progress over time, and to continue their own development as discussion leaders and classroom managers. In-class coaching provides additional and tailored guidance to support continued development in instructional and leadership capacities. New curricular development includes: leader's and participant editions of "touchpebbles, volume c- and "completing the odyssey: a journey home". K-12 programs: students in touchstones programming from grades 2 through 12 engage in touchstones discussions one hour per week. They develop skills essential for success in the emerging global and dynamic 21st century world by learning systematically to question, listen, and cooperate through respectful discussion. In touchstones, they share exploration of texts and issues central to civil society and examine their roles as citizens. They evaluate their own work, self-correct unproductive behaviors, and set goals collectively for improved discussion outcomes. These essential skills transfer to many dimensions of academic settings and extend outside of school. Academically rigorous yet accessible to all, toucshtones' school programs, after-school programs, and workforce development programs help students of all academic abilities and backgrounds become active collaborators in their own learning. Touchstones materials are used in programs for advanced learners, esl and ell students, international baccalaureate, advanced placement, avid elective and critical reading, students with special needs, and in inclusive classrooms. Touchstones school programs are in more than 44 countries and have been translated from english into arabic, burmese, french, haitian kreyol, and spanish. More than five million students of all ages have used touchstones programs since the organization was founded in 1984.

veterans programs in 2017, touchstones was awarded a grant from the national endowment for the humanities for the development of a discussion program for veterans. The touchstones program, titled, completing the odyssey: a journey home, pairs text selections from homer's the odyssey thematically with contemporary works written by veterans. As part of the program design, touchstones trained a group of veterans to co-lead the first pilot program with touchstones staff. This is preparation for the second pilot, slated for spring 2018, in which the veterans will assume greater responsibility as discussion leaders. The training period and initial pilot included 35 veterans, including a maryland state senator, and a robust communications plan to share information about the program with the maryland secretary of veterans' affairs, and the maryland veterans caucus, which includes members of the state senate and the house. Press releases about the veterans program were sent out to 40 news outlets, and newsletter updates about the program were sent to 3000 recipients. As part of the program, five personal history projects were initiated and completed. Those projects were entered into the library of congress veterans history project as part of the permanent collection. Like all touchstones programs, this one was designed for replication and is being refined through the pilot period for that purpose. Members of the social services staff at the orlando va have expressed interest in the program, and we are exploring service agencies in maryland where the program may be embedded.

correctional facilities: through touchstones programs in correctional institutions, juvenile and adult detention centers, and jails, incarcerated men and women participants reflect on their values and choices and take greater responsibility for their actions. Touchstones is actively used to strengthen socio-behavioral skills in a number of correctional centers in maryland, virginia, and california. Recently, touchstones has worked on the expansion of programs at the maryland correctional institue for women. Touchstones discussions afford prisoners the opportunity to experience efficacy in their own thinking and empower them through self-respect and respect for others. In touchstones, participants learn essential socio- behavioral, cognitive, and meta-cognitive skills, which they employ to improve their lives in prison and to achieve and sustain productive lives after release. Each year, touchstones donates hundreds of staff hours to run programs with the incarcerated and their families in maryland prisons, the majority of whom are from minority households living below poverty level.

new business development adult workforce readiness and community-building programs: touchstones programs with adults provide a safe and collaborative environment in which to learn crucial socio-behavioral and cognitive skills required for successful engagement with others in the community and at work. Touchstones recognizes that adults who are undereducated or coming from severe economic and social disadvantage must be afforded opportunities to learn the basic skills of communications and interaction so they are empowered to change their circumstance. Touchstones adult programs are run in english, french, spanish, burmese, and haitian kreyol with participants in the u. S. A. , canada, guadeloupe, dominican republic, myanmar, and haiti, respectively. More than 50,000 copies of touchstones volumes in kreyol are in circulation for use by adult programs in haiti. Civic leadership & community engagement: touchstones programs for civic leaders afford participants the opportunity to reflect on their values, skills, and commitment to leadership in their communities. Through group exploration of leadership and the role of civic engagement in healthy communities, program participants examine their assumption, opinions, and ideas. In so doing, they become more aware of barriers to authentic collaboration among their peers and between groups of populations. Participants work together to address problems, outline solutions, and leverage their passion towards more effective and inclusive engagement. Touchstones discussions provide a welcoming and friendly environment in which participants stay intellectually and socially active. As a touchstones group, older adults explore new ideas and perspectives as presented by their peers. They develop community and friendships within the program and stay connected to the world, drawing from their own experiences, they participate in lively and enriching discussions that continue well after the sessions end, providing access to continued, meaningful, and authentic engagement with others. Colleges and universities: post-secondary students learn to examine, formulate, and articulate their ideas through reading, speaking, and listening in touchstones collaborative seminars. They tackle challenging issues and academic concepts and learn to work independently and in teams. College students in touchstones programs overcome the passivity that generally characterizes pre-college learning. They learn to evaluate and refine their own work and skills and take initiative in developing themselves as reflective and life-long learners and leaders in their communities. Touchstones curricula strengthen a range of essential skills that students in post-secondary programs must possess for success in rigorous academic environments and the workplace. Touchstones programming is used in u. S. College-bridge programs, ell and esl courses, first-year experience courses, freshman orientation and humanities programs, teacher education courses, and honors leadership seminars. Executive development: executives and managers in government agencies, not-for-profit organizations, businesses of all sizes, and private groups gain a better sense of teamwork through custom touchstones programs and collaborative discussions. Executives systematically improve their abilities to access, assess, and utilize diverse perspectives and collective knowledge in problem-solving. At the same time, the touchstones format helps them to grow their leadership capacity, build cohesive teams, and improve their organizational management.