UC Riverside Feature: Melissa Holman-Kursky

“In my current position at The San Francisco School, one of the things I get to do is combine two of my great loves: SEL (social-emotional learning) and improv! Outside of -- but also intertwined with -- my career as an educator is my career as a professional improvisor and nonprofit theater owner.

People who practice improv of any kind (including musical improvisation, like jazz) have long known about the social, emotional, and cognitive benefits it provides. In recent years, there has been exciting scientific research demonstrating those same benefits. Improv training has started showing up in many workplaces, and it's a great joy to incorporate it into my work with children.

At school, that can look like a small social skills group doing targeted games and exercises to build specific skills (impulse inhibition, taking turns, entering and sustaining play, etc.); teaching games to an entire class to build skills like flexible thinking, brainstorming, cooperation, non-judgmental reactions, and more, while debriefing the deeper meaning of each game with the kids; leading a parent/guardian workshop in which adults learn exercises to help kids have a growth mindset; or sharing improv-based games with teachers that build important writing skills.”

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