Community Bulletin Board

A few days ago, I shared chapter 2 with all of you from Conscious Discipline. In case you missed it... I LOVE this style of classroom management. I am finding similar ideals in my favorite teaching resources and it is all starting to blend together into one seamless foundation. At last!!

Do you remember my community board?

I have had many comments and questions about this.While many of you seemed to love it, I was struggling to feel the same way. In fact, all those stripes were driving me batty.

Inspiration finally struck when this banner arrived in the mail. I purchased matching fabric but soon found out that the black print would just not work for what I had envisioned so I used it on another project and it came out perfect!

Armed with these fabrics - I redid my cork boards on my community board. I created this:

I love this look so much better. Please ignore the dust on my quotes. I should have dusted prior to taking the picture! This was taken on my living room floor. I can't wait to hang this in my classroom!

You cant see it clearly in this picture - but the red fabric is actually a red and white polka dot and the black and white is a damask. Here is what the fabric looks like up close:

The black school print fabric was not used in the design but since I am using black magnetic chalk boards with quotes in white - it is a close match.

Question: Is each board separate or is it one big piece?
Answer: Each board is separate. In the new picture I made two long strips instead of a square with the pieces.

Question: What size is each square and how much fabric did you use?
Answer: Each square is 14x14. I purchased them at Joann's Fabric when they were on sale for $8 a piece. There are 8 cork boards and 8 magnetic whiteboards that I made into chalkboards. 1 yard of fabric covers approximately 4 boards. To complete this entire project, I used just less than 2 yards of fabric. Yes, I have a plan for the scraps. =)

Question: Are the chalkboards glittery?
Answer:  Yes (giggles)!! I have a love affair with glitter hairspray. I have found many many uses for it. Prior to putting on a clear coat to seal the boards I sprayed them with glitter hairspray and let them dry. It applies and even coat of glitter that is subtle but still catches the light. I love how it works.

Question: What quotes did you use and why?
Answer: I looked for quotes that had character traits that I wanted to see emulated in my classroom and also by people my students should recognize. I also wanted a variety of people so that every student could perhaps find someone to connect with. I wanted the quotes to have meaning to my students.

Efforts and courage 

are not enough without 

purpose and direction. 

~ John F. Kennedy

Try not. do or do not. 

There is no try. 

~ Master Yoda

All of our dreams can come true - 

If we have the courage

to pursue them. 

~ Walt Disney

In the middle of 

difficulty

lies opportunity. 

~ Albert Einstein

Nothing great was ever

achieved without enthusiasm.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

The dictionary is the only place

where success comes before hard work. 

Hard work is the price we must

pay for success. 

~ Vince Lombardi

The more that you read,

the more things you know. 

The more that you learn, 

the more places you'll go. 

~ Dr. Seuss

No legacy is as 

rich as honesty. 

~ William Shakespeare

Question: Do you change out the quotes?

Answer: I have contemplated changing out the quotes to ones with more meaning for my students and may do so at some time in the future. I had a long list of ideas to use but with the help of my children narrowed it down to these 8. I have also contemplated changing out the cork boards seasonally but I think this maybe more work than the impact of the board will warrant. Besides - now it matches my classroom perfectly.

Question: How will you use this board?
Answer:  I originally designed this to go behind my desk but quick realized it was probably too large to do so. Instead, I will either hang it above eye level but still reachable along a wall or perhaps even split it into multiple areas of my room. The cork boards will hold pictures of our school community. My students, their families, and other people we encounter throughout the year.

This is an idea that I had when asked to create a way to celebrate diversity in my classroom. It was always made to hold pictures of our class from the beginning even when I was going to put it behind my desk. The change has been to the made as I found a similar idea in Conscious Discipline.

So what am I gonna do with the stripe fabric? I am not sure to be honest. I am saving it for that one day when I will have another ah ha moment! And find the exact thing that it will work on. =)

CD Chap 2: The School Family

It has taken me forever to get to writing this next chapter. I had so much fun with and learned so much about myself on multiple levels. I have been wanting to get to the second chapter of Conscious Discipline but alas I have been overwhelmed with other things.

UNTIL TODAY!!!

This chapter is about how to create a school family! I was so excited about this chapter. During the first month of school, I feel that creating a school family is just as essential as setting up rules and procedures. This chapter talks about how routines and rituals are the heart of the school family.

Principle 1: 

We are all in this together!

Routines create predictability. It supports the school family like our skeleton supports our bodies. I love that analogy! Rituals creating a caring culture with a common goal. They do take some time away from learning but are the most important part of establishing a school family. Rituals help build trust!

 There is a long list of types of different types of rituals and attitudes about them. Rituals including caring for all members of the classroom and include classroom jobs,

This is the song we sing each morning with the students in my current classroom which is a grade 1-2 combo class. There are actually several songs and chats that we do/use as part of our routine. I wonder if my mentor teacher has ever heard of Conscious Discipline? I will have to ask.

Teacher:Good Morning To You 

(students repeat)

Teacher: And how do you do? 

(students repeat)

Together: We are all in our places

With bright shining faces

And this is the WAAAAAY

We start off our Day

I love this absent routine from Heather's Heart. Have you seen it?

 Principle 2: 

Contributing to the welfare of others

This section talks about how everyone wants to feel needed. It has a great list of classroom jobs and why they are important. It suggests that you should have a job available for everyone to do. HEY! That is what I said before! LOL! I really like some of the "specialty" jobs and maybe mixing up some of the jobs I use to add these in. 

It also talks about the importance of community service, valuing others contributions, and helping parents become involved. All things I highly recommend!

Principle 3: 

How you see others defines who you are

This  section hit home with me on such a personal level. It asks you to simply answer "Who am I?" and then talks about how the answers color our interactions. This is SO TRUE! The tips in this section are AMAZING! I need to re read it. I need to really learn to retrain myself on what I am noticing. 

Principle 4: 

We are all unique NOT special

I laughed so hard when I saw this! One of my pet peeves is people thinking they are special. They are not special. Special implies you are better than someone else. I do not believe I am special. I am not better than everyone else. I am simply unique. My own person with my own unique strengths and weaknesses. I will save you all from my soapbox moment!

Principle 5: 

Some forms of praise can be discouraging. 

This section was also very interesting to me as I have heard my professors say "Never praise a student. You can notice what they are doing but never praise. Praise is making a judgment about the person. It is not helpful!"

Oh how I struggle with this one! 

My favorite part is when it says you should act like a football fan when you are encouraging students. Are you sure about that? Have you ever seen me during a Bears game? I might scare my kiddos!

Praise is a judgment. It tells a child who you think they should be and is a sign of conditional love. Instead we are to notice and describe behavior. There are some great tips to help you notice rather than praise. 

Principle 6: 

Children need encouragement especially

when they have made a poor choice. 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE how discipline issues are handled. This is truly the type of teacher I want to be. A lot of open questions, a lot of solutions, and discipline that is done with love and understanding!

So once again, I feel like have not done any justice to this chapter at all. There truly is so much in each one that you really have to read it to understand.

Here is the next video in the series. I hope you enjoy!


So are you reading this book with me? If so, what are your thoughts on Chapter 2? If not, what are your thoughts on this anyways?

Conscious Discipline - Chapter 1 - Part 2

So most of this week I have been talking about Conscious Discipline and wanted to wrap it up with the rest of chapter one today.

Random note --

I had an interview for a substitute teaching position this morning... it was just a formality. I already knew I was hired. Anywho... instead of a "normal" interview we discussed my future with the school district. When do I graduate? When is my student teaching? What school do I want to work at? What grade level do I want to teach? What year do they need to have my spot open for me?

YES!!  I just got offered a third full-time position and again I can go any where in the district that I would like to go. I have to meet with the Superintendent in the next week or so to discuss some special project he has for me this year.

Back to Conscious Discipline --

The next part of the chapter teaches all about how the brain works. It discusses stress and the brain and temperament of both you and the child. I LOVE where it talks about a "good fit" between temperaments. There are some people that just seem impossible to get along with. This explains why AND how you can improve your "fit."

Principle #4: Your job is to keep the classroom

safe so children can learn. The child's job is to 

help keep it safe.

One of my pet peeves as a parent is a classroom that is not psychologically supporting my child. Translation... the classroom where "some" bullying is allowed as "children will be children." I feel that any level can easily be escalated beyond control. 

I LOVE the idea of creating a safe place in your classroom. In fact, I have designed one into my classroom not knowing about this part of the book. I have a chair for my kiddos, a small table with a lamp, a note pad and special pins, a monster to eat the notes, Mr. McPea as a friend to hold onto, and an Australian Flag to cuddle in. I call my safe place... Australia after the book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. 

I need to make a sign. 

Do you have a safe place in your classroom? Do you think it is just a waste of space or a needed spot? Does it have multiple uses? 

I use mine for tattling and if someone is sick as well. Its kinda my "I need some space" zone. 

I found it interesting that morning meetings should always be done in a circle so everyone feels equal BUT what if there is not enough room? In too many classrooms space is extremely limited. In my classroom we have a rug to sit on but everyone is in rows. There are just too many kids for a circle. It this okay? What do you do in your classroom. 

Loved the list of warning signs at the end of the chapter. I need to copy this and hang it somewhere as a reminder until I learn this one. 

To Do's for Chapter 1

~ Take responsibility for my own upset

~ Maintain composure

~ Know your triggers & work on eliminating them

~ Create a safe spot in my classroom

~ Morning Meetings

~ Start class the brain-smart way; establish a morning routine to support this

~ Post list of warning signs 

~ Practice STAR and other ways to focus

Conscious Discipline - Chapter 1 Resources

With so many people interested in this topic, I decided to share with all of you some of the resources I have found to use with this chapter. The first one is a webinar video that introduces you to the concepts presented in this chapter.





Many of us have learned about this book from the beautiful and talented Heather. I just adore her! She has the biggest heart ever and her posts are truly inspiring! I know she is planning a book study on Conscious Discipline. She has started it... I am just waiting for the next edition to post.




I also found these resources:

Breathing Star Activity

Songs

Here is the list of songs for this chapter:

Get Ready

Welcome

STAR Song

My School Family

Conscious Discipline - Chapter 1 - Part 1

This chapter has sooooo much information that I decided to create 2 posts on this topic.  I am not sharing everything that is in here so you really do need to read the book to get the full benefit from it. There is simply no way I can do justice to it and so much of it is on a personal level in this chapter. It is all about you!!

Principle #1: Composure is self control in action.

The first part of this chapter hit home with me in a variety of ways. I come from a less than ideal childhood. I know that I have scars from this that still affect me to this day. I attempt to overcome them yet I did not have the tools to do so. This book provides tools for not just being a better teacher but a better person. I LOVE THIS!

The part that hit home the most for me was being a slave to our insecurities. This is huge for me. I often find myself avoiding trying something for fear of failure. I have to first convince myself of either success or that even if I do fail all will be as it should be BEFORE I begin the task. I wonder how often this is true for my students as well. 

Principle #2:  No one can make us angry without our permission. 

Your perception of an event determines your feelings about it. I have always known this is true. I am one of those people who rarely get upset but when I do its not pretty. It usually results in tears. My hubby has said something to me about this in the past that the book also reiterated. You become upset because the world didn't work as you thought it would. Oh how true that is!

The section goes on to discuss triggers and how to remain in control of your upset. How to accept that sometimes life does not go as you believe it should. Tips for removing your own triggers and handling those of your students.

Principle #3: Start the day the brain-smart way.

Now that we know what causes stress, how we respond to stress, our triggers, and ways to identify and manage those triggers... we move into the classroom with a better sense of ourselves. 

The first part of this section discusses creating a morning routine to help unite, disengage, connect, and commit yourself (and your students) to the day ahead. Several suggestions are given as well as an area to write down your own routines and to improve them. 

My Morning Routine

Meet students outside

Walk them inside silently

Students line up outside classroom

I peek in & turn on the song of the day

Stand at door

Greet children as they come in the door

Students have until end of the song to put away all their things

Problem of the day

Announcements

Independent Reading

When looking at my current routine, I noticed there are some things that I can do to help my students prepare for the day ahead. I am working on this and will share it another time.  Being able to relax is a big part of this routing. STAR is designed to help students with this. Ideas for brain breaks are given... I see another project in my future! 

Available at TpT

I have always used code words with my autistic son but have never thought of using them in the classroom. When he is becoming mean and aggressive I tell him "fork." It means you are stabbing me in the back with a fork and need to check your attitude before you get into trouble. All of the boys have an emergency word that means "front and center in 10 seconds or less." This is for if there is a fire, someone broke in the house, a storm is coming, etc.. The boys know this word is spoken with urgency. They are to be complete still and quiet. We have a different word that means come here. Each one is a way for me to express something without being wordy. I love the idea of using this in class. 

There is also talk of the first part of classroom songs, relaxation exercises, brain breaks, classroom mottos, and more. What are your thoughts on the first part of this chapter? 

Conscious Discipline ~ Introduction

OH!! I am so happy! Did you see? Did you see? The amazing and beautiful Ms. Heather is leading a book study on Conscious Discipline! How on earth did I miss her post?? I really like how there are no due dates for reading this book.

INTRODUCTION

Heather asked the following questions:
*What are most discipline models built on?
*What is the goal of the School Family?
*What 3 premises are CD built on?
*Since change must begin with ourselves, which belief on page 3 speaks to your heart?
*Why is self control such a crucial part of CD? What does this mean to you?
 *What is the purpose of the 7 Powers? The 7 skills?

CD = Conscious Discipline. Don't be like me and wonder what cd Heather has that you don't and then after trying to figure it out at the website have a "duh!" moment. My only excuse... I am blonde. Its natural and sometimes these things happen! Moving on....

I am not going to answer Heather's questions here as it would simply giveaway too much of the book and I want you to read it with me. It says right here that there are group activities and well that means we need a group to complete those. YOUR my group. =)

This book makes me so happy. It states that the traditional method of disciplining children in the classroom no longer works as the children are no longer the same as they used to be. Their lives are different than children in the past and as a result has different needs.


The classroom is built upon a sense of love and community NOT rules and consequences.



Belief #4  - You must teach others how to treat you. You cannot expect them to magically know. In order for children to learn to behave properly, they must be taught - speaks to me for a variety of reasons.

I do not believe I have shared with all of you that I grew up as a foster child. Life wasn't easy but I will spare you the details. The important part is I survived with minimal scars. Many aren't as lucky as I was. But those scars that I do have haunt me. Those scars run deep and no matter how hard I battle them, they remain.

One of my biggest challenges is understanding body language. Sometimes just understanding why people act the way they do is difficult for me. My hubby is amazing. He understands. I can ask him when someone does ....... what does it mean? Sometimes he laughs cuz he can't believe I don't know but he always tells me. I love writing and blog. I can read words and understand. There is no guess work. 

So I was wondering why if Heather started the book study in May... we haven't done anything more than read the introduction. Is that so we can all get our books in the mail? NOPE! Its because you are only suppose to read 1 chapter a month so you can work on each of the seven skills.

Heather just posted her recap of the introduction. Go check it out! I always love reading her posts.... they are so full of hope, love, & inspiration. How could anyone not want to be a teacher after reading those?

Conscious Discipline - Part 1

I did it! 

I did it! 

I FINALLY bought the book!

It's not here yet. =(

Heather has been sharing so many amazing things about this book. She is an amazing, incredibly sweet teacher that I want to grow up to be like.  If you have not met Heather, you simply must!!! 

Hurry... go... I will wait here.

Did you come back yet? 

Isn't she amazing?

I stop into visit whenever I feel like I need a hearty dose of inspiration or a kick in the pants for being a whiny teacher. She makes me remember that being a teacher is a blessing and an honor.

So I headed over to Amazon.... my favorite online place to shop and while they had the book it was EXPENSIVE! I just knew it had to be cheaper elsewhere and guess what I found!???

A CONSCIOUS DISCIPLINE WEBSITE!! Jackpot! This is the cheapest place to get the book... it was $29 with shipping and I am sure it will be so worth it. But guess what else I found??

YES! Webinar Videos!

They are FREE and there is seven of them. If you ever wanted to know more about Conscious Discipline this is the place to start. This really goes with my focus of wanting to learn more about the brain. Not just to help my son but my students as well. 

This website has SO many resources! Some are free some you have to purchase but I never knew there was so much involved with this. I can't wait to get the book and start reading.

This was one of my favorite features - Sherbert's Classroom. It really takes you inside to show you the various components of this classroom management strategy.

OH! And this is not just for teachers but parents too! We can recommend this to our parents who ask us for parenting advice. WOW! I am just so amazed and excited.

Did you know about this?? With so many of us planning on reading this book over the summer - should we do a book study? Maybe we can get Heather to help us out with it?