This week at our Conscious Discipline (CD) training we learned about the different brain states people have. The brain stem, limbic system, and prefrontal lobes are the locations of the brain states. The brain stem is the survival state and the body needs to feel safe. Conscious Discipline suggests designating a "safe place" in your classroom. The "safe place" is a center to support teaching children the skill of composure. Also, it mentions how the use your language helps students feel safe. Below are examples you teacher safety talk.
- "Leaving materials on the floor is not safe. Someone could trip or that might get lost."
- "My job is to keep the classroom safe."- Safe-keeper ritual, where students decorate a wooden stick with their name on it and every morning it gets placed in the safe keeper box with a group commitment.
- "Jimmy, pushing John is hurtful. My job is to keep the classroom safe. What could you do now that would be helpful instead or hurtful?"
CD also taught of a powerful phrase. Instead of saying, "I am proud of you," you should say, "you did it!" This gives students the ownership of their hard work. It is my goal this week to say to my students "you did it!" and explain to the what they did.
On Wednesday this week I officially got trained to become a sub! I am so excited to teach all day this Friday as a substitute. I have already started lesson planning! I am nervous though because it will be my first time teaching science and second time teaching math. Wish me luck!
-Miss Honey
P.S.- Donor's Choose donated 2 iPad Mini's to our fifth grade classroom thank to the grant I wrote! Here it is down below and click here for the website to check it out. :)