(The following overview was taken from http://www.beckybailey.com/ – 06/06)
Conscious Discipline is a comprehensive classroom management program and a social-emotional curriculum. It is based on current brain research, child development information, and developmentally appropriate practices.
Conscious Discipline has been specifically designed to make changes in the lives of adults first. The adults, in turn, change the lives of children. Research on brain function shows that learning takes place in an emotional and behavioral context. When children can attach academic skills to feelings and actions that are part of their everyday world, they are more likely to use those skills.
Conscious Discipline creates a “School Family” that fosters meaningful academic and social learning together. Every classroom management system must have a core motivator. The motivator in Conscious Discipline is the School Family. Connection, belonging and contribution within the School Family create cooperation among children. Students are intrinsically motivated to be helpful, responsible, and caring classroom citizens. Conscious Discipline is specifically designed to teach the following:
1. Anger management
2. Helpfulness (pro-social skills)
3. Assertiveness
4. Impulse Control
5. Cooperation
6. Empathy
7. Problem Solving
Real-life conflict and challenging situations serve as character education curriculum for the Conscious Discipline classroom. Conflict is viewed as a teaching opportunity and adults are empowered to transform it into a valuable lesson. Character education is part of everyday life, not an activity that occurs separately.
Conscious Discipline builds self-esteem by addressing children’s universal needs to be generous and contributing members of a group. Each child holds a job and is responsible for the effective running of the classroom.
Conscious Discipline allows adults to teach by example. Example is, by far, the most powerful teaching technique available. Children who observe discrepancies between what is “practiced” and what is “preached” are likely to imitate the behavior they see modeled.
Conscious Discipline links home and school, as the School Family is seen as an extension of the home family. The School Family provides the infrastructure in the classroom to handle difficult events in a child’s life, in the community and in the world.
Conscious Discipline operates on the basis of creating physical and psychological safety for children. Research shows that the brain functions optimally in a safe, stimulating environment. This principle is at the program’s core.