2022-2023 will be Year #3 of implementing Conscious Discipline at Liberty Primary School. This approach has been (and continues to be!) a transformative mindset shift for our staff. It is truly a "grow as we go" initiative - our staff is learning more and more each year!
While we will participate in some PD on Conscious Discipline throughout the year, the purpose of sharing this with you now is to allow you time to dive into the content (a 10-hour E-course through the Conscious Discipline website - more info below!) and to ensure that classroom management strategies you develop for your class at LPS coincide with our school's core beliefs about discipline. For example, we do not utilize clipcharts, ClassDojo, or class-wide token economy systems at LPS (however, these, as well as other tools, are utilized for our Tier III kiddos). Instead, we place our focus on classroom expectations, the Class Family, self-regulation, conflict resolution, and natural consequences. Some "non-negotiable" classroom structures you will need to utilize in your classroom include: Safe Place (with self-regulation tools, breathing techniques, and provided "I Choose" board and pillows), Friends and Family board and/or photo album, Classroom Jobs, Kindness Tree, Morning Meeting (Brain Smart Start), and Visuals.
Check out the resources included below to learn more about Conscious Discipline and each classroom structure so you can start wrapping your mind around it. In addition, feel free to start watching the Conscious Discipline E-course (www.consciousdiscipline.com, login with Mrs. Ellison's username: joyellison@pickens.k12.sc.us and password: COLTSbx2020, then select "Digital Purchases" and "E-Course" - FYI: it looks like right now, the videos do not play on district network due to videos being streamed through Vimeo - try viewing on a home network or phone). Sessions 1-3 will be most beneficial to you before starting the school year (downloading the Participant Guide is also super helpful!).
We will study more together throughout the year but please don't hesitate to reach out to one of us or to your grade level with questions about how to implement CD in your classroom!
