Dr. Valerie Parker is an educator, administrator, parent and wife, and serves as the Education Committee Chair for the Howard County Branch of the NAACP. She’s a self-proclaimed “fierce advocate for black boys everywhere,” and her research focuses on teacher perception of behavior that leads to student misconstruction. Dr. Parker firmly believes th…

Kristin Chesterman is a deep believer that all behavior is a form of communication. Addressing the lack of skills in a student (or scholar as she refers to them) is the key to regulation success. As a Title 1 Behavioral Support Teacher serving approximately 615 students in Indiana, Kristin shares personal examples of how the implementation of Consc…

Accepting the task of helping to heal the pain and trauma of abused and abandoned children comes with some enormous challenges, but they’re challenges those at Conscious Discipline and Laura Angulo believe to be well worthwhile. A former special educator and current psychologist, Laura now partners with a facility for abandoned children in Cali, Co…

Episode SummaryThe powers and skills of Conscious Discipline apply far beyond the classroom and the way we interact with children. We can use them in our daily lives in any situation we encounter, especially the most difficult and challenging. The powers and skills help us build the tools and the community of people we need to walk through trauma a…

If you’re familiar with Conscious Discipline, you know that transformational change begins with an adult mindset shift. In today’s episode, special guest Joan Morgernstern explains why toileting is no different. An educator, parent coach, and author, Joan has developed a kinder and more effective approach to “potty mastery.”Tune in to hear how to s…

Award-winning principal and Conscious Discipline Certified Instructor Tanyelle Hannah has seen the transformational power of Conscious Discipline firsthand at Benjamin E. Mays Academy in Chicago. Since implementing Conscious Discipline, her school has experienced improved relationships, behavior, attendance, academic achievement, parent involvement…

Conscious Discipline isn’t only transformational in schools; it’s also transformational within homes and families. Families who practice Conscious Discipline experience stronger bonds, calmer conflict resolution and more.To learn more about practicing Conscious Discipline as a family, join Dr. Becky Bailey in conversation with mother-daughter duo N…

*Trigger warning: This episode contains content concerning cancer, loss and grief.*Specials teachers, like those in art, and physical education, often see every student in the school, but only for a short time. The question often arises, “Can these teachers use Conscious Discipline effectively?” The answer is unequivocally yes, as demonstrated by t…

Conscious Discipline takes an adult-first approach to social and emotional learning. “Adult-first” means that we must shift our mindsets and upgrade our skill sets before we can effectively coach and model SEL for children. We create healthy mental models for the next generation by examining our own mental models now.Of course, making a shift away …

In this episode, 2020 National Teacher of the Year Tabatha Rosproy joins new hosts Latoria and Amy for their Real Talk for Real Teachers debut. Tabatha is a Conscious Discipline practitioner and the first early childhood educator to be named National Teacher of the Year.Listen in as Tabatha discusses her joyful experience developing a preschool ins…

Special Episode: Meet the New HostsReal Talk for Real Teachers with Latoria Marcellus and Amy SpeidelEpisode SummaryWe're excited to bring you a special episode of Real Talk for Real teachers introducing you to the show's new hosts, Latoria Marcellus and Amy Speidel. Both Conscious Discipline practitioners and previous guests on the podcast, Latori…

Conscious Discipline asks adults to make a mindset shift and a skill set upgrade before coaching children to do the same. For some adults, this type of transformational change feels difficult, scary, or overwhelming, and some teachers are hesitant to dive into Conscious Discipline implementation. Because Conscious Discipline requires internal trans…

Awareness about the importance of mental health for athletes is increasing, and it’s become clear that instilling emotionally healthy skills in young athletes is critical. Rather than encouraging young athletes to bury big feelings, it’s incredibly powerful to coach them in identifying these feelings and handling them with emotionally sound strateg…

In traditional in-school suspension rooms, troubled kids complete their schoolwork in an environment where they aren’t a distraction to others. This quick fix doesn’t lead to long-term change. Now, imagine if kids with big feelings could go to a Calming and Recovery Environment (CARE) Room instead. In CARE Rooms, children learn about mindfulness, a…

With the holidays fast approaching, many families will choose to vaccinate their children for the flu or Covid. Certified Instructor Amy Speidel joins us for a special Real Talk to help adults create a positive experience for children undergoing medical procedures like vaccines this season. The way we approach children’s medical procedures establis…

Sometimes people look to SEL as a solution for a challenging student, a remedy for a difficulty a school is experiencing, an improvement they’d like to see or a mandate to be followed. Conscious Discipline surpasses these expectations by positively influencing every aspect of our lives once we gain an understanding of its foundational concepts. A c…

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools went virtual. Others opted for a hybrid format, with some students learning in school and some learning from home. Even now, with record numbers of students quarantining, schools and families continue to vacillate between face-to-face and virtual learning.This presents challenges for teachers, stud…

In this episode, Dr. Bailey is joined by Chazz “Mr. Chazz” Lewis, a former Montessori teacher turned educational specialist with a fast-growing presence on social media. Mr. Chazz applies his brand of charisma, humor and insight to important topics in both education and parenting. His philosophy closely align with Conscious Discipline, which led to…

Conscious Discipline is not a boxed curriculum; it’s a foundation on which you build your interactions, relationships, school culture and approach to discipline. It equips you with an internal system of wise choices and creative problem solving. The Powers of Conscious Discipline make it possible to tap into this internal system and access your bri…

Social and emotional learning (SEL)includes relationship-based skills like conflict resolution, empathy and the ability to assertively set limits and boundaries. Because social norms and practices differ across cultures, experts emphasize the importance of culturally responsive SEL, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Students may feel exclud…

Many classrooms and schools rely on systems of punishments and rewards, and these systems can be especially common for children with special needs. Punishment and reward systems provide external motivation to behave appropriately. They don’t teach social and emotional skills or problem solving, and they rely on judgment rather than personal respons…

Research shows that positive student-teacher relationships result in a more productive learning environment, improved peer relationships and increased academic achievement. However, the children most in need of connection are often the most relationship-resistant. Conscious Discipline gives educators the tools to see these children in a positive li…

10.2 million children in the United States participate in after school programs. The best after school programs are comprehensive, fostering the self-worth of each child, developing social skills, and promoting respect for cultural diversity. They also provide learning activities, quiet time, recreation, anddevelopmentally appropriate activities th…

Punishment is defined as the infliction of pain or loss upon a person for a misdeed. Research shows that when children are physically or verbally punished, effects include increased child aggression, increased antisocial behavior, reduced academic achievement, decreased quality of relationships, and mental health problems. Punishment also fails to …

At its core, Conscious Discipline is a relationship program. Our brain is a social brain that developsthrough relationships. To change the brain for optimal learning, we must create optimal relationships.No matter how you choose to weave Conscious Discipline into your classroom, school or district,remember: As we improve relationships, we improve l…

As a child, DJ Batiste didn’t have the skills he needed to behave or succeed in school. He was expelled from preschool and often kicked out of classrooms before becoming involved with gangs and increasingly serious trouble. During his senior year of high school, DJ’s life changed when he walked intothe classroom of Donna Porter, a teacher implement…

Episode SummaryI Love You Rituals are playful, one-on-one interactions that build loving connections while increasing attention span, decreasing power struggles and promoting language and literacy at school or at home.These brain-building interactions facilitate optimal development for young children and create lifelong bonds between children and a…

In any classroom, conflict happens. And that’s an understatement—conflict occurs every day, all day long. Research shows that in Pre-K classrooms, 60 acts of intrusion occur per hour. If you want to save time for learning and connection, teaching conflict resolution to young children is essential. With Conscious Discipline, we foster a willingness …

Conscious Discipline is both trauma-based and trauma-informed. It emphasizes optimal brain development for all children and adults, regardless of life experiences like chronic stress and trauma. There are three types of trauma: acute, chronic and complex. Acute trauma results from a singular instance, like a natural disaster.Alabama Pre-K teachers …

Effective consequences, rather than ineffective punishments, are embedded in Conscious Discipline. Unlike punishment, consequences teach children to solve problems, learn from mistakes, take responsibility and focus on learning a new skill. Understanding the logic behind choosing consequencesinstead of punishment is easy when we’re dealing with you…

Since Dr. Becky Bailey started Conscious Discipline more than 20 years ago, it has played an integral role in supporting the development of children with special needs. Core tenets like safety, connection, self-regulation and social skills development are vital for all children, but they are especially helpful forchildren with special needs.In this…

Migrant farmworkers in the United States face many unique challenges. They earn an average total income of $15,000-$17,500 while working 10-12 hours a day for six days a week. Due to these long hours, parents have little quality time to spend with their children. They are exposed to toxic pesticides and often exploited. Migrant farmworkers are also…

After learning about Conscious Discipline at a workshop, teachers at Grove Hill Elementary knew that they wanted to implement it at their school. Principal Kathy Spidle saw their enthusiasm and quickly agreed. At the start of the following year, a four-year-old child in Julie Hoven and Miranda Richardson’s class was diagnosed with leukemia. Althoug…

Charter schools, or independently run public schools, have increased flexibility over operations. While this additional freedom is exciting, it often comes with its own unique challenges.In this episode, Certified Instructor and charter school administrator Lindsey Merrick talks to Master Instructor Jill Molli about her Conscious Discipline journey…

Eighth and ninth grade English teacher Afton Schleiff fell in love with Conscious Discipline the first time she attended a training. She immediately launched a book study at her school and began working internally on the Powers. Next, she brought Conscious Discipline into her classroom of teenagers.When people ask Afton, “Aren’t those kids too old …

In this episode, you’ll hear from district leaders Toni Stevenson and Lynlie Schoene. Toni and Lynlie are the Chief Academic Officer and Chief Innovation Officer of Franklin Township Community SchoolCorporation in Indianapolis, Indiana. They work with counselors, administrators, teachers, and instructional coaches.Listen in as Toni and Lynlie share…

Rage is often confused with anger, but it is not the same. Anger stems from a goal or desire not being fulfilled. Rage, on the other hand, is often rooted in trauma and may be the result of seizure-like activity in the limbic system. Because these two feelings are very different, we must manage them in two different ways. Strategies that work for c…

Conscious Discipline hosts the Advanced Institute, also known as CD2, each year in February. CD2 is limited to 48 participants who apply for the opportunity to attend. During this transformative week, each participant shares information about how they’re implementing Conscious Discipline and the results they’ve seen. Take a sneak peek into the Adva…

Every February, Conscious Discipline hosts the Advanced Institute, also known as CD2. CD2 is limited to 48 participants. During this transformative week, each participant presents a ten-minute session on how they’re implementing Conscious Discipline and the results they’ve seen.In this episode, you’ll listen in on CD2 presentations from Rachel Fras…

Every February, Conscious Discipline hosts the Advanced Institute, also known as CD2. CD2 is limited to 48 participants, and each participant presents a ten-minute session on how they’re implementing Conscious Discipline and the results they’ve seen. In this episode, you’ll listen in on CD2 presentations from Megan Duplain and Sarah Catherine Rhode…

Although Conscious Discipline provides extensive coaching, resources, and support for schools, implementation is flexible and customizable. Practitioners shouldn’t hesitate to find creative solutions to school-wide problems through a Conscious Discipline lens. Once your staff understands the powers and skills and have mastered the basics, make it y…

No matter what your job description is, you will lead and you will be led. Exhibiting leadership is an extension of your personality, upbringing, ability to self-regulate, and your mental models of how you view yourself, the world, and relationships with others. Two especially effective leadership models are transformational leadership and servant …

When Conscious Discipline is practiced both at school and at home, it becomes even more effective. Of course, limited time and busy schedules make it difficult to teach the principles, powers, and structures of Conscious Discipline to all families.In this episode, pre-K teacher Celeste Finnegan shares a brilliant way to share Conscious Discipline w…

Every Conscious Discipline implementation story is different. Conscious Discipline can be customized to fit your school, your goals, and your needs. For Sandy Mummey, the best approach was to go slowly. Sandy gave her staff time to examine their values, discuss what they wanted for children, and develop agreements and commitments that reflected the…

In 1996, Dr. Bailey set out to help teachers and children from her guest bedroom. Even with no strategy and no marketing, word spread about the transformational results. One teacher found it helpful and told another teacher, who told more teachers, and the movement grew. 20 years later, Conscious Discipline has reached 47 countries and counting, in…

People often ask, “Is Conscious Discipline culturally sensitive?” and “Will Conscious Discipline work in my country?” The answer to both questions is, “Yes.” Conscious Discipline is brain-based and rooted in neuroscience. It’s also built on the Power of Unity, the idea that we’re all in this together. In addition, Conscious Discipline is more of a …

Setting healthy boundaries is a vital skill that protects our identities and self-esteem. Without healthy boundaries, we open the door for others to determine our thoughts, feelings, and needs, losing a sense of self. Strong boundaries give us the confidence to make our own choices without yielding to a sense of sacrifice or obligation.Lessons abou…

From being expelled as a preschooler to joining a gang by the age of nine, DJ Batiste was a troubled child until his life was turned around his senior year of high school. The first day of his senior year, DJ walked into a class that utilized the powers and skills of Conscious Discipline. Ms. Donna Porter used the skills she had learned through Con…

Self-regulation programs like Conscious Discipline are most commonly used in early childhood programs and elementary schools. It makes sense to build vital skills during these foundational years. But what about the children who are never given the opportunity to learn self-regulation and other social and emotional skills?By the time these students …