Responsive Practices Learning PathwayThe Learning Pathway at a glance
A structured journey for teachers, educators, and schools to develop responsive, human-shaped learning environments.
Orientation & Relational Grounding
Launch & Foundations
Integrating First Learnings
Morning session: Processing & Launching New Layers. Seminar 3 follows that afternoon.
Layering Relational Practice
Afternoon session: Building the Bridge, following Seminar 2 that morning.
Design & Implementation
Translating Learning to Practice
Celebration & Forward Vision
Looking Ahead with Courage
Intercultural Development Inventory®
Understand your approach to cultural differences and commonalities, and use those insights to guide growth.
Being Culturally Responsive
A small-group video workshop led by Scott Simpson and Sharla Steever, Learning Specialists at Compass Partners in Learning, connecting reflection with dialogue
Touchstones©
Shared practices that support relational trust and a safe space for reflection and dialogue.
Circle of Trust®
A reflective approach to group engagement used throughout the pathway’s small-group dialogue.
Learning Pathway book options
Choose Human Shaped Learning, CircleBridge, or Relational Landscaping, all by Scott Simpson and Sharla Steever; Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer; My Grandmo
Implementation & Coaching
Translate learning into a classroom lesson or strategy, with individualized support and reflection.
North Dakota Native American Essential Understandings
The NDNAEU provide a foundation for incorporating North Dakota Indigenous knowledge and perspectives into curriculum.
North Dakota Learning Principles
Indigenous approaches and methods for all learners, introduced as a resource for classroom implementation.
Teachings of Our Elders
North Dakota’s collection of Elder interviews, NDNAEU-aligned lesson plans, and classroom resources.
Foundations of Responsive Practice
IDI, Touchstones®, Circle of Trust®, reflective journaling, identity, and cultural lens
Being Culturally Responsive Video Series
Real classroom video stories, student voice, cultural identity, and dialogic practice
IDI & Intercultural Growth Series
Intercultural Development Inventory®, goal setting, and Touchstones®
Coaching & Implementation Lab
On-site support, modeling, co-planning, and reflection practices
Blended Mini-Pathway
Core components of IDI, video/book study, and reflective seminars
CircleBridge book study
CircleBridge by Scott Simpson and Sharla Steever: storytelling, Touchstones, IDI integration, and cultural humility.
Human-Shaped Learning book study
Human Shaped Learning by Scott Simpson and Sharla Steever: belonging, emotional presence, and relationship-centered practice.
Storywork book study
Explore personal storytelling as a foundation for relational, classroom-ready social-emotional learning.
Relational Landscaping book study
Relational Landscaping by Scott Simpson and Sharla Steever: cultivating trust, belonging, and healthy relationships across the human terrain of organizations.
My Grandmother’s Hands book study
Racialized trauma, healing practices, and somatic awareness
Let Your Life Speak book study
Vocation, calling, and identity in education
Introduction: The Circle of Trust®
Begin with the group approach and supporting handouts for reflective dialogue.
Part One: The Importance of Listening
Explore listening as a foundation of culturally responsive practice.
Part Two: Human Beings & Relational Accountability
Explore relational learning and growth within the realities of workplace accountability.
Part Three: Culturally Responsive Practices
Explore culturally responsive practice and the accompanying pedagogy handout.
Part Four: Who’s in My Circle of Trust?
Reflect on the people with whom you cultivate trust, support, collegiality, and friendship.
Time commitments & graduate credit
Five seminar sessions across four meeting days, with Seminars 2 and 3 combined. Discuss the current workload and optional graduate credit with the team.
Pathway contacts
The pathway is developed and facilitated by Scott Simpson and Sharla Steever, Learning Specialists at Compass Partners in Learning. Contact either specialist ab
Responsive Practices Learning Pathway resource guides
Browse readable chapter, concept, lesson and training resources, with direct links throughout the CircleBridge learning network.