Whether you are a parent or an educator…or both…we are all looking for new tools and strategies to be more effective with children.  In 2001, I was also diligently seeking information to help our teachers with more and more broken children and families that were enrolling in our schools.  It was at that time that the director of our Early Childhood Department and I found Conscious Discipline®, an emotional/social curriculum and way of life in the classroom developed by Dr. Becky Bailey.  By 2003 we had our Early Childhood Staff trained and on their way to full implementation in their classrooms.  The result?  Other teachers and administrators saw such a difference in the classrooms that they signed up for the training on their own. Currently, Conscious Discipline® has been adopted as the core curriculum for behavior in the CSISD Response to Intervention plan.  All elementaries are in the process of training staff and are on the way to full implementation.  There is high interest in Conscious Discipline® implementation at the junior high level and high school teachers are also attending the training cadres and implementing stratgies in their classrooms!

So what is Conscious Discipline®?  It is a brain based classroom management program and social/emotional curriculum that teaches adults and children to respond instead of react to life events.  The book, Conscious Discipline®, by Dr. Becky Bailey, includes seven skills—Composure, Encouragement, Assertiveness, Choices, Positive Intent, Empathy and Consequences.  All of these skills are based on a very easy to understand Brain Model which teaches us about the different states in which we function.  For example, a child who tantrums is functioning in the Survival State and his highest need is safety.  A child who is very emotional and verbal is functioning in the Emotional State and needs connection.  The child who can use his/her words and problem solve is functioning in the Executive State and needs stimulation and problem solving opportunities!  Can you see how all of this could be so helpful when addressing a discipline situation at school or at home?  Different strategies and tools are more effective depending on what state the child is in! 

STAR in CD means to Stop... Take a deep breath And Relax

Conscious Discipline® requires time to implement because the adults must learn the skills before teaching the children. We all know that sometimes it takes adults a little more time to make that change!  However, the payoff in our classrooms and homes is high when the change takes place!  It is well worth the time and effort!