As any of you regular TLS blog readers may know, Conscious Discipline, a classroom management system developed by Dr. Becky Bailey, is a favorite blog topic.
Conscious Discipline begins with learning and practicing the 7 Powers of Self-Control. These powers shift the focus of interactions from blame to solutions, from punishment to teaching, from fear to love.
We have introduced two of these powers: Composure = becoming the person you want to be and Encouragement = building a school family.
I recently spoke to Arryan who teaches with Paige and Cicely in the yellow building. I was inspired to highlight a very touching and tangible piece of “Encouragement” in her classroom. It involves noticing the children’s accomplishments and encouraging them by describing their actions.
Becky Bailey says when you notice children without judging them, you introduce unconditional love and acceptance into their lives. When you notice how a child is fulfilling his/her commitments, and describe exactly what they did, while offering encouragement, the child experiences positive self esteem and resiliency.
There is a basic formula for noticing children’s contributions to others in the school family or even just ways in which they may successfully help or regulate themselves:
"You (describe what they did), so (describe how they helped others). That was helpful (or kind)."
EX: "Deborah, you showed your friends 'ballooning' so that they could relax. That was helpful!"
Or:
“Johnny, you held the door open so all children could walk through without bumping each other. That was helpful.”
Or:
"Edgar, you built a tower with blocks. You did it!"
Arryan’s classroom incorporates a “You did it!” board. The class uses the board for highlighting individual goals, as well as class-wide goals such as being able to settle in for nap on their mats. When there is an occasion to encourage by acknowledging goals and accomplishments, the children go to the board and place their picture (or in this case symbol) onto the board.
Through Conscious Discipline the children are learning the language of encouragement. They can use encouragement at home and at school. They can use encouragement for others and to support and encourage themselves.
Here is a great example from the classroom:
Sarah Grace was in her classroom getting ready for nap time. Three different friends were getting very frustrated putting their sheets on their mats. Sarah Grace walked to each one and said, "Don't worry. Let me show you how I do it." She calmly walked to each friend and helped them. After helping them, she said "I did it! I showed my friends and calmed them down!".
You can also teach your children to recognize their own achievements and nurture their cooperative spirit by helping them say "I did it" aloud. Every night you can incorporate “You did its!” into the bedtime routine.
You can allow older children and adults to say what they did during mealtime and every one can respond "You did it!". You can have a “You did it!” board at home.
Lindsey (Lulu) of the yellow building says:
“In our classroom we use "You did its!" for just about anything. It is a great way to recognize the child and their accomplishments. We have recently started using "you did it" to recognize children who are offering comfort to other children in need. If a child falls or someone is upset about something we encourage the class to check on the friend and offer comfort in various ways. The children offer songs, loveys, tissues and pats on the back as a way to comfort an upset or sad friend. We always take time to recognize the act of kindness in our classroom community. We also use "you did it" to encourage children in their daily tasks of using the potty, washing their hands, putting on their shoes, using their walking feet in the hallway and trying new foods at lunch.”
We all benefit from encouragement. In a recent staff meeting Ms. Arryan suggested creating a “You did it!” board for the staff. A board was placed in the staff room and in no time it was filled with uplifting “You did its!” from staff members.
One of the first was from Jennifer which read: “Arryan, you did it. You came up with the idea to use this board.”
What better way to teach the children about Encouragement than by “practicing” it on one another and incorporating Encouragement into our lives.
Paige, who teaches with Arryan and Cicely, wrote the following to her teammates on the staff board: “You did it! You are both inspirational in how you use Conscious Discipline! I feel lucky to have you both as examples in how to incorporate CD in our classroom. I love learning from ya’ll!”
More “You did its!” followed, including:
Melissa: “You did it! You made the older infant room look so much homier! Thanks for your creative style.”
-Ms. Yvette
“You did it, Arryan!” You invited us on a nature walk and everyone loved it. We appreciate your out-of-the-box approach.”
-Always, Leigh
Jim: “You did it. You kept the school from floating away out there in the rain and lightning with your rake and your galoshes.”
-Monica, Crystal + Jennifer!!!
Melissa: “You researched and found programming that is Reggio-like designed for infants, and you are helping to try and bring it to The Little School.” – Wendy
“It is always a challenge to open a new classroom. No matter how much support and encouragement we have during the process, it is just plain stressful in the moment. Period.
We have recently reconfigured our Infant Program in order to welcome the newest members of many of our current families. There was a huge need for the infant spots. A reconfiguration had to happen.
In the process of the reconfiguration, we opened five new classrooms. This was an enormous task that required the cooperative efforts of five Lead Teachers, eight Teachers, four Support Staff, and Two Directors. This team came together with very little time to smoothly execute the move. In order to be ready to welcome the children the teams needed to:
Move furniture
Re-stock and decorate all five of the classrooms
Contact and coordinate with all of the new families
Organize all of the children's belongings
AND be ready to welcome the children and parents... nearly overnight.
In the end, the move was seamless, the classrooms are BEAUTIFUL, the teaching teams came together as cohesive and distinct entities.... And the children and families are wonderful and most welcome.
It is not always this easy to accomplish what was accomplished. In fact, it rarely is. We give a HUGE "YOU DID IT!" to everyone involved. We are so impressed and proud of all of you. You truly did it!”
Thank You (in no order except the order of classrooms from youngest to oldest):
Shannon
Maira
Alyson
Monica
Barbara
Melissa
Yvette
Kathleen
Beth
Jennie
Amy
Rachel
Silva
Kelly
Jennifer
Wendy
Mary
Jo Ann
Jim
You DID IT!
Finally, A “You Did It!” goes out to Chef Nate who steadfastly organized, ordered, prepared, and cooked food for our WONDERFUL picnic this past weekend that many of you were able to enjoy. In addition, we send out “You Did Its” to Todd Hannon (Spencer’s dad), Steve Dock (Jennifer’s husband), and Mark Vavrousek (Wendy’s husband) who worked all night to support Chef Nate.
-Christa, Jennifer, Wendy, Mary, and Joann
Hopefully as adults we can learn from Sarah Grace and not shy away from patting our own backs once in a while!
Feel free to comment and leave your own “You did its!”.
***shines*** on Susan Haley. She teaches the Mighty Me’s with Jessica and Maddy in the yellow building. She is very proud of her 4 children. Her two boys are in the military and today she enjoyed military family day in South Carolina. She enjoys her two younger girls at home. She loves working at The Little School and wishes that Conscious Discipline was around 20 years ago while raising her own children. She says, “I use it on my own family now and it works!”
To see Susan’s bio:
http://www.thelittleschool.net/teachers.htm#mid
Q&A Session with Susan:
The Crazy Adventures of Ms. Poopen. (this is because Becket cannot say my name he calls me Poopin)
What is something about you that most people may not know?
Our family has just adopted a dog named Molly from the Paulson family. The Paulson's were fostering Molly while her owner was serving his country in Afghanistan. Molly's owner is unable to return from Afghanistan. Having two sons in the Military this touched my heart. It is a pleasure for us to have Molly. She is a wonderful six year old black lab and we LOVE her.
What is your happiest childhood memory/what makes it so special? My happiest childhood memory is when a group of girls in my neighborhood would put on plays for our parents. We would practice and make our own scripts from shows such as "One Day at a Time" and "Alice". We would use one of the girls’ carports as our stage. Sometimes we would persuade one of the boys in the neighborhood to play Mel. As a child I spent so much time outside with my friends running around for hours with no worries.....well, except who was going to play which parts.
What did you want to be when you were 12 years old?
An actress.
What's the best bargain you've ever found at a garage sale or thrift store?
Found a riding truck for TLS for a quarter at a yard sale.
What's your favorite Dr. Seuss book?
Oh the Places You Will Go
What's the best costume you've ever worn?
About nine years ago I made a Glenda costume for my daughter Sydney. It took me months to make for Halloween. She had the huge crown and wand. It was the hardest costume I have ever made. Sydney was Glenda and her friend was Dorthy. That costume lasted years in my daughter's dress up box. As a young girl I used to design wedding dresses. I always thought I would make my own wedding dress one day. After my Glenda making costume I realized just how much work goes into something so beautiful.
What's your favorite tree? Weeping Willow
What's the most memorable class you've ever taken?
Social Deviance with John Neathery at Alamance Community College, this class really took you outside your personal bubble. I made some life changing changes after that class for the better.
