Philosophy - Re-Ed and Teachable Moments

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                                                                    Re-ED 

LIFEBOAT SERVICES utilizes the Re-Ed philosophy that was developed by Nicholas Hobbs, who initiated an 8-year pilot project to address the need for effective and affordable mental health programs for children who struggle with their emotions. Named “Project Re-Ed,” it was created for the re-education of emotionally disturbed children. This innovative program emphasized that rather than using traditional therapy, using “teachable moments” in addressing the child's full environment (family, school, neighborhood) enhances their learning by expanding their perceptions. Teachable moments occur ubiquitously. “Teachable Moments” requires the spontaneity and creativity of the educator. As an educational technique, “Teachable Moments” enhance the developmental skills not only of school-aged children and youth but of individuals regardless of their age or status. Teachable moments occur within everyday behavior and center on practical knowledge and skills. Teachable moments maximize the learning process more effectively than traditional learning because teachable moments can turn what most would consider weaknesses into strengths. Spontaneity is an unexpected encounter that occurs when an unplanned event or situation develops. A skilled and creative educator uses their attentiveness and preparedness to recognize these “fleeting opportunities” when they arise for teachable moments that are never planned. The educator must have the training, patience, and skill to use a situation that could be confrontational and change it to a non-threatening environment in which learners’ minds can be stretched without fear of judgment. One of the strengths of a teachable moment is that the learning occurs in context, thus building strong memory associations for future retrieval. An ideal teachable moment is transferrable and generalizable to other contexts, by turning “learning into practice.”A skilled educator who is aware and creative can use a teachable moment by taking advantage of an unplanned opportunity that leads to learning on an expanded level. This can develop into long-term and independent learning, which leads to improved self-esteem and confidence.