Equity and Access Newsletter
Elementary Edition October 2019
Conscious Discipline
The concept of Conscious Discipline was created by Dr. Becky Bailey, an internationally renowned expert in child developmental psychology. The idea of Conscious Discipline is built on the premise of developing discipline within children rather than applying discipline to them. This process works equally with families. childcare givers, and educators.
Conscious Discipline, pictured as a pyramid has four stages:
- Understand the brain states (the base of the pyramid)
Using the latest brain research, which reveals the fact that our mechanical habits of disciplining children stem from the way we received discipline as a child. With this knowledge, you will gain the ability to help children progress from physical or verbal aggression to calm self-regulation and enable them to make better choices and empathize with others.
- Learn your seven powers as an adult
These powers include your ability to see discipline as an opportunity to teach rather than a disruption. This knowledge helps you to stay in control of your actions and creates a safe environment for your children. As part of this stage, you'll learn how to self-regulate your own emotions and actions.
- Discover new ways to connect members of your family, classroom, or team
Building stronger family connections, class, or team connections will increase the willingness to solve problems together rather than engaging in disagreements.
- Use the seven skills of discipline to respond to events in new ways
If you have ever had difficulties struggling to keep a child on task, you will be excited to know that changing your responses can help children boost their learning skills.
Conscious Discipline is a program that has been embraced by Springfield Public Schools and has many advantages. However, with anything new, it takes time to be integrated into the classroom. Conscious discipline addresses classroom management along with social-emotional learning, uses everyday events as part of a school's curriculum, and treats the adult as well as the child. Which increases your student’s willingness to learn, boost impulse control, and reduces stress causing your classroom to be a more relaxed caring place of learning.
Link for more information about Conscious Discipline:
Library Corner
Harvesting Hope The Story of Cesar Chavez by Kathleen Krull Illustrated by Yuyi Morales
Cesar Chavez is known as one of America's greatest civil rights leaders. He led a 340-mile peaceful protest march through California, he ignited a cause and improved the lives of thousands of migrant farmworkers. Cesar Chavez was not always a leader. When he was a boy, he was shy and teased at school. His family worked hard in the fields for barely enough money to survive.
Cesar felt that things had to change, and he thought that he could help improve them. So he took charge. He stood up for what was right. And an entire country listened.
Harvesting Hope
Harvesting Hope The Story of Cesar Chavez can be found in Springfield Public Schools Libraries
Did You Know?
Implicit bias is any unconsciously-held set of associations about a social group. Implicit biases can result in the attribution of particular qualities to all individuals from that group, also known as stereotyping. Implicit biases often begin at a young age and are the product of learned association and social conditioning.
Holding implicit biases towards any particular social group can determine your treatment towards them. By becoming aware of our own implicit biases, we can actively resist them, and avoid perpetuating there harmful stereotypes and prejudices.
Berghoef, Kacie. “What Does Implicit Bias Really Mean?” ThoughtCo, ThoughtCo, 21 June 2019,
Reading With Ms. Gwen
Mariachi Flor de Missouri of Springfield, Missouri
Celebremos! (Let's Celebrate)
Hispanic Heritage Month
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. There are 20+ countries in which Spanish is the official language including Mexico, Spain, most of Central and South America and Equatorial Guinea in Africa. Spanish is also spoken widely in the Philippines and Puerto Rico. It’s the second most widely spoken language after Mandarin with over 450 million Spanish-speakers around the world!
There are many ways to incorporate Spanish and Spanish-speaking
characters, artwork, music, history, etc. Here are some links to websites to get your creativity flowing:
· https://education.seattlepi.com/prek-school-activities-hispanic-heritage-theme-5921.html
· https://www.modernmami.com/hispanic-heritage-month-activities-for-kids/
· https://sharemylesson.com/collections/hispanic-heritage-month-resources
· https://www.readbrightly.com/picture-books-celebrate-hispanic-heritage/
· https://spanishmama.com/hispanic-heritage-month-activities-and-ideas/