Students, success and failure, evaluation, conflicts, motivation, enthusiasm, student demands... teamwork, learning, writing publishing, time management... confidence... inspiration... passion... warmth... responsibility... balance... kindness, humor and fun.

The Speakeasy® Diversity Game can be used in any setting where people from different groups or cultures interact. The game encourages a focus on topics and internal resources which build awareness, acceptance, and understanding. It is suitable for groups or classes of any size, or two person interactions.

Playing time and vocabulary preparation varies with each individual or group according to the level of understanding, maturity, and impulse control. The game cards can be used as teaching tools for players to learn more about issues which are important in understanding diversity.

• Home (Parent - Child Communication)
• School (Communication Exercise)
• Classroom (Middle School, High School, College, Continuing Ed)
• Diversity Training
• Teacher Training
• Intercultural Conferences, Worshops

The Speakeasy® Gifted Game allows exploration of higher level thinking skills and appreciation of varied levels of intelligence. Players are guided to focus on building confidence, respect and understanding of their abilities. The game allows exchanging thoughts on significant topics such as competition, understanding of giftedness, perfectionism, social issues, and acceptance of diverse social and educational environments. Players are guided to create a safe and appreciative space to examine and express feelings, thoughts and values about personal identity and belonging.

• Home (Parent - Child Communication)
• School (Communication Exercise)
• Teacher Training

The Speakeasy® High School deck addresses health and social issues, peer and social relationships, and issues of the emerging adult. It is appropriate for social studies, health classes, physical education, contemporary teen issues, peer leadership groups (facilitated by nurses, counselors, or psychologists.) The structure of the game allows players to explore feelings and innermost thoughts in a safe, appreciative environment. Each player can choose his/her own level of self-disclosure. The game is flexible, allowing topics to be structured in advance or self-selected. The game encourages players to focus on the application of positive life values.

The teacher/facilitator can choose to use game topics for vocabulary development before playing the game. The game encourages identifying strengths of others through a simple, brief process of giving and receiving appreciations. It can be used with mixed grade level classes.

Playing time and vocabulary preparation varies with each individual or group according to the level of understanding, maturity, and impulse control. The game cards can be used as teaching tools for players to learn more about issues which are important for high school students.

• Home (Parent - Child Communication)
• School (Communication Exercise)
• Teacher Training

This Speakeasy® game allows dialogue to develop in mixed cultural groups, or in any educational setting where there is a desire to learn more about intercultural issues. The game allows players to share thoughts, acceptance, prejudices, and responsibilities of multicultural society. Players can advance the concepts of the game into discussion that fosters continued understanding of people. Players may speak openly about their personal values, rites and traditions, harassment issues, and forgiveness. The game invokes a thoughtful, safe environment that builds understanding between individuals.

• Classroom (Age 13-Adult)
• Home School
• Intercultural conferences
• Youth residential treatment programs
• Adolescent or adult corrections
• Church/religious groups
• Youth activity groups

The Speakeasy® Learning Styles Game is appropriate for age groups from 8 to 18. It focuses on personal learning styles and practical techniques for studying. The playing experience allows focus on different values and respect for individual differences, building confidence and responsibility in the individual learning process. Even reluctant students can find a safe and appreciative place to share feelings and thoughts about learning.

Playing time and vocabulary preparation varies with each individual or group according to the level of understanding, maturity, and impulse control. The game cards can be used as teaching tools for players to learn more about issues which are important in understanding learning styles.

• Home (Parent - Child Communication)
• School (Communication Exercise)
• Teacher Training

The Speakeasy® Middle School game addresses issues of health and peer/social social relationship issues. It builds understanding of diversity. It is appropriate for health or social studies classes.

The game requires almost no preparation time. It is time limited -- can be used in any available 20 minute time block. Players are guided to build oral communication and listening skills, and clarify attitudes and value. The game is compatible with peer mediation programs: it helps resolve peer conflicts, fosters social consciousness, and presents opportunities to focus on decision making in a safe, non-judgmental atmosphere. Children are challenged to bring positive qualities to difficult issues.

Playing time and vocabulary preparation varies with each individual or group according to the level of understanding, maturity, and impulse control. The game cards can be used as teaching tools for players to learn more about issues which are important for Middle School children.

• Home (Parent - Child Communication)
• School (Communication Exercise)
• Teacher Training

This Speakeasy® game encourages participants to dialogue on elements that crate a safe and caring school, as well as those that could destroy a positive environment. Students, teachers, and administrators play together as they share equally in the responsibility for Peaceable Schools. The game also focuses on positive qualities for successful learning.

Playing time and vocabulary preparation varies with each individual or group according to the level of understanding, maturity, and impulse control. The game cards can be used as teaching tools for players to learn more about issues which are important for developing Peaceable Schools.

• Peaceable Schools Program
• Classroom (Grade 2-12)
• Parent groups (PTA, PTO)
• Teacher training
• Home (Parents and children)

The Speakeasy® Primary 1-3 Game is easy to explain - it is short, time limited, and within children's attention span. It can be used for parent child communication at home, or at school between peers or for teacher student communication. At school, it can be a "filler", "sponge" type activity - for example, 20 minutes before the end of day or 20 minutes before lunch. The game makes it possible for players to participate equally regardless of their abilities. It can bridge cultural gaps.

Teachers can use the game for social learning, referring to words in the game later when a conflict or problem comes up in the classroom. The game has direct application to social situations, emphasizes positive attributes, and develops social awareness. It is open ended, and builds oral communication and thinking skills. It is non-judgmental, addresses classroom, playground and social issues, and builds on the common experiences of children.

The game can be used to teach and reinforce oral communication and listening skills. In the closing of each game, children are asked to recognize and express the positive qualities of others.

The game can be led by a teacher, or with a small amount of preparation by student aides who are assisting in the classroom. The teacher/facilitator can choose to use game topics for vocabulary development before playing the game.

• Home (Parent - Child Communication)
• School (Communication Exercise)
• Teacher Training

The Speakeasy® Primary 4-6 Game is easy to explain, time limited (takes 20 minutes), and is suitable for diverse learning styles and attention spans. The game makes it possible for players to participate equally regardless of their abilities. It builds cultural understanding, has direct application to social situations, emphasizes positive attributes, and develops social awareness. It is open ended and non- judgmental. The game focuses on common experiences of children, and builds oral communication, listening and thinking skills. In the closing of each game, children are asked to recognize and express the positive qualities of others.

The game can be led by the teacher, or with a small amount of preparation by student leaders. The teacher/facilitator can choose to use game topics for vocabulary development before playing the game.

• Home (Parent - Child Communication)
• School (Communication Exercise)
• Teacher Training

This Speakeasy® deck allows players to exchange experiences about resolving conflict on a local or global level. Many ideas for conflict resolution are introduced, such as communication, truth, caring, respect, and meaningful action. Topics also include obstacles to conflict resolution: war, bullying, hate crimes and prejudice. The game encourages players to focus on positive qualities and internal resources which can promote effective conflict resolution. The game is structured to allow safe and appreciative dialogue. It can be used as a teaching tool for players to learn what issues are most important in creative problem solving.

Playing time and vocabulary preparation varies with each individual or group according to the level of understanding, maturity, and impulse control.

• Classroom (Grade 1through High School)
• Residential youth treatment programs
• Elective classes (Teen issues, Contemporary World Problems, leadership.)
• Oration and debate classes
• Student government
• Home school
• Alternative schools (Montessori, Waldorf, Summerhill)

This game gives players the opportunity to share personal thoughts, feelings, and values about sensitive topics relating to gender identification, bisexuality, stereotypes, and social sex roles. It can be used in homogeneous or heterogeneous groups to build understanding between people in today's world.

• High school (Gay and lesbian groups)
• High school elective classes (Contemporary world problems, teen issues)
• Residential youth treatment programs
• Teacher training (In-service activity)
• PFLAG (Parents, family and friends of lesbians and gays)
• College classes
• Counseling (Individual, family, couple, group)
• Graduate classes in education, psychology
• Church/religious groups

This Speakeasy® game gives school peacekeepers a framework to help students assess and practice their behavior and communication skills. It provides a discussion base for training in the mediation process by allowing them to actively discuss important qualities such as peacefulness, fairness, tolerance, respect, and judgments. Players can safely share their thoughts and feelings about mediation and problem solving activities. Playing time and vocabulary preparation varies with each individual or group according to the level of understanding, maturity, and impulse control. The game cards can be used as teaching tools for players to learn more about issues which are important in recovery.

• Classroom 4-12
• Home (Parents and children)
• Home school

The Speakeasy® Teachers' game addresses major issues involved with today's teacher in a safe and appreciative atmosphere. Players are guided to build communication, mutual trust, and respect in the staff.

The game can be played solitaire, by two persons, or any size group. It allows sharing of positive and negative feelings, beliefs and philosophies, creates time for giving and receiving appreciations. It provides the possibility of focusing on cultural, ethnic, and gender similarities and differences. It is appropriate for team building activities - it is excellent for an ice-breaker at the beginning of each school year. When the game is used in a large group with an entire staff, the issues generated by the discussion can be later used for smaller focus groups.

• Teachers' Conferences, Meeting
• Staff Training Retreats
• Teacher Training Programs

This game builds an appreciation of specialized training, gives career awareness, and helps clarify attitudes and values. It creates an opportunity for conversation about important work-related issues, such as hopes and dreams, goals, aspirations, family expectations, personal responsibility, substance abuse, personal decision making and career choices. The game can be both serious and playful, and allows for give and take between players. The structure of the game builds thinking skills and thoughtful oral communication. Players are encouraged to communicate tactfully. Each individual can choose his/her own level of participation.

• Home (Parent - Child Communication)
• School (Communication Exercise)
• Teacher Training

The Speakeasy® Youth in Recovery Game focuses on important topics such as personal responsibility, empowerment, respect and forgiveness. It is appropriate for individual or group therapy, educational or therapy groups (inpatient, outpatient, aftercare).

The game promotes safe and appreciative communication on sensitive issues such as peer and family pressure, depression, anger management, personal safety, and relapse. The structure of the game makes it possible to practice positive attitudes and thinking patterns. The process of playing the game helps develop purpose and commitment, flexibility and cooperation.

Playing time and vocabulary preparation varies with each individual or group according to the level of understanding, maturity, and impulse control. The game cards can be used as teaching tools for players to learn more about issues which are important in recovery.

• Home (Parent - Child Communication)
• Adult Hospital or Residential Treatment Programs
• Youth Residential Treatment Programs
• CD Aftercare groups
• Counseling (Individual, Family, Group)