Taken from their website:
Conscious Discipline is an innovative social-emotional learning and classroom management program with a proven track record of sustainable results.
Romans 12 showed up in my devotional on the exact same day as my Conscious Discipline seminar, and I wasn't really surprised that, through God's divine power, Paul said most of this stuff first : ) Paul didn't get into the detailed names for connections in the brain, but check out some of these similarities!
- "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2
Conscious discipline is all about noticing the state of our mind and our mental voice, and creating a pause for self-regulation. We learned about changing our responses to student behavior to help students actually learn executive functioning skills instead of pushing students to a "Survival State" through our use of fear and punishment. I also know that it's always wise to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit and God's word.
- "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought." Romans 12:3
Today we learned that students cannot be at a higher mental state than the adult in the room. Teachers and parents are often guilty of responding to students from an "Emotional" or "Survival" state while expecting students to hear us and learn from us in that moment from an "Executive" state. This is not realistic, and it's very hypocritical and counterproductive to the positive behavior changes we actually want to see in kids.
- "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." Romans 12:6-8
Today we learned that one of the most important components to Conscious Discipline is creating a "school family." One major suggestion we were given was to provide each student with a classroom job. When a human completes a task, dopamine is released in the brain. This makes you feel good and can lead to increased motivation. It follows that giving a student a realistic classroom job to complete will allow them to move toward "Executive" functioning and the belief that they can learn to complete other things as well. This brings them to a teachable state. In Conscious Discipline, the expectation is that everyone contributes to the classroom just like God's expectation is that we contribute to his church through our gifts and generosity.
These points are brought up again in verse 10 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love," and verse 13 "Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
- "Do not repay evil for evil." Romans 12:17
We learned that we can change lives by helping students learn how to move to an "Executive" brain state rather than responding to their survival induced fight or flight with a survival response of our own. If a student yells, yelling back is just reinforcing the behavior we want to change.
- "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink." Romans 12:20
If a student is not having their basic needs met, they are not in a mental state to learn content. Before an "Executive" brain state can be achieved, a student must feel safe, and they must feel cared about or a sense of belonging. Only feeling safe and loved can allow a student to move out of "Survival" and "Emotional" states.
- "Do not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21
Many people hold the belief that students must suffer to learn. This verse says otherwise, and so did our presenter today. She said that the action of loving and forming connections with our students is what will overcome the bad behaviors and what seems like disrespect.
The Bible has practical advice, and respecting God is the beginning of wisdom. I'm thankful that these Biblical ideas of love, forgiveness, community, transforming our thoughts, and humility are something we're teaching all teachers. I'm hopeful, but also want to remember that these ideas will never reach their full power without the joyful hope, patience in affliction, faithful prayer, and transforming freedom and grace that only come from a relationship with Jesus.
Conscious Discipline is an innovative social-emotional learning and classroom management program with a proven track record of sustainable results.
Romans 12 showed up in my devotional on the exact same day as my Conscious Discipline seminar, and I wasn't really surprised that, through God's divine power, Paul said most of this stuff first : ) Paul didn't get into the detailed names for connections in the brain, but check out some of these similarities!
- "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2
Conscious discipline is all about noticing the state of our mind and our mental voice, and creating a pause for self-regulation. We learned about changing our responses to student behavior to help students actually learn executive functioning skills instead of pushing students to a "Survival State" through our use of fear and punishment. I also know that it's always wise to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit and God's word.
- "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought." Romans 12:3
Today we learned that students cannot be at a higher mental state than the adult in the room. Teachers and parents are often guilty of responding to students from an "Emotional" or "Survival" state while expecting students to hear us and learn from us in that moment from an "Executive" state. This is not realistic, and it's very hypocritical and counterproductive to the positive behavior changes we actually want to see in kids.
- "We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." Romans 12:6-8
Today we learned that one of the most important components to Conscious Discipline is creating a "school family." One major suggestion we were given was to provide each student with a classroom job. When a human completes a task, dopamine is released in the brain. This makes you feel good and can lead to increased motivation. It follows that giving a student a realistic classroom job to complete will allow them to move toward "Executive" functioning and the belief that they can learn to complete other things as well. This brings them to a teachable state. In Conscious Discipline, the expectation is that everyone contributes to the classroom just like God's expectation is that we contribute to his church through our gifts and generosity.
These points are brought up again in verse 10 "Be devoted to one another in brotherly love," and verse 13 "Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality."
- "Do not repay evil for evil." Romans 12:17
We learned that we can change lives by helping students learn how to move to an "Executive" brain state rather than responding to their survival induced fight or flight with a survival response of our own. If a student yells, yelling back is just reinforcing the behavior we want to change.
- "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink." Romans 12:20
If a student is not having their basic needs met, they are not in a mental state to learn content. Before an "Executive" brain state can be achieved, a student must feel safe, and they must feel cared about or a sense of belonging. Only feeling safe and loved can allow a student to move out of "Survival" and "Emotional" states.
- "Do not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:21
Many people hold the belief that students must suffer to learn. This verse says otherwise, and so did our presenter today. She said that the action of loving and forming connections with our students is what will overcome the bad behaviors and what seems like disrespect.
The Bible has practical advice, and respecting God is the beginning of wisdom. I'm thankful that these Biblical ideas of love, forgiveness, community, transforming our thoughts, and humility are something we're teaching all teachers. I'm hopeful, but also want to remember that these ideas will never reach their full power without the joyful hope, patience in affliction, faithful prayer, and transforming freedom and grace that only come from a relationship with Jesus.
Comments
Post a Comment