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 that changes in our perception can help address much larger, systemic issues: particularly the school to prison pipeline. Essential Takeaways: • Changes...
Sep 22, 2023•35 min
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 Conscious Discipline’s powers, skills, and strategies in connection with Brain State knowledge cultivate an inclusive School Family. In this episode, she e...
Aug 02, 2023•49 min
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, Colombia that serves up to 100 children from ages 0-8. There, Laura supports 30 staff members as they implement and model Conscious Discipline, providin...
Apr 25, 2023•41 min
Episode Summary The 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 and hardship. In this episode, Certified Instructor, educator and social worker Bibi Herran shares how the powers and skills of Conscious Discipline h...
Feb 27, 2023•1 hr 14 min
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 shift your mindset and language around toileting so you can empower children to learn this new skill. And if you want to learn more about potty master...
Jan 13, 2023•1 hr 4 min
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, and beyond. In this episode, Tanyelle shares inspiring stories and actionable advice with hosts Latoria Marcellus and Amy Speidel. You’ll hear about...
Dec 02, 2022•57 min
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 Nicole and Ally. They share how family life and family relationships have changed, along with their top Conscious Discipline tips for both adults and ...
Sep 02, 2022•24 min
*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 this month’s guest Rachel Frasier. Rachel is a dance specialist at an elementary school. She utilizes Conscious Discipline extensively in her program ...
Jul 29, 2022•47 min
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 from lifelong thought patterns and behaviors is challenging. It requires willingness, conscious reflection, creativity, and the ability to give ourse...
Jul 11, 2022•50 min
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 inside a nursing home in Winfield, Kansas, where resident “grandmas” and “grandpas” volunteered in her classroom. She also shares her brilliance on topi...
May 27, 2022•52 min
Special Episode: Meet the New Hosts Real Talk for Real Teachers with Latoria Marcellus and Amy Speidel Episode Summary We'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, Latoria Marcellus is a a teacher and a mom, and Amy Speidel has been a Conscious Discipline Master Instructor for twenty years. Together, they will conti...
May 06, 2022•16 min
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 transformation, it’s not a practice that can be mandated. So, how can administrators or school leaders approach hesitant teachers? In this episode, you’ll ...
Apr 11, 2022•18 min
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 strategies. By using Conscious Discipline to teach emotional awareness and self-regulation, coaches can help young athletes perform better in the moment and ...
Feb 24, 2022•19 min
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 strategies. By using Conscious Discipline to teach emotional awareness and self-regulation, coaches can help young athletes perform better in the moment and ...
Feb 24, 2022•19 min
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, active calming and self-regulation strategies. They take these skills back to their classrooms and into their homes, resulting in a transformational, l...
Jan 27, 2022•30 min
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 establishes a mental and emotional blueprint children will utilize for the rest of their lives. In order to help create healthy blueprints, we must replace “g...
Nov 24, 2021•18 min
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 casual introduction can plant a seed that, when nurtured through training, coaching and community, blossoms into the mindset change needed to transform...
Oct 26, 2021•14 min
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, students, and families. Before the pandemic, most schools had no established curriculum or guidance for virtual learning. And many teachers quickly disco...
Oct 26, 2021•37 min
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 Mr. Chazz attending and presenting a keynote at a 2021 Conscious Discipline Institute. Dr. Bailey and Mr. Chazz discuss their similar viewpoints on p...
Jul 26, 2021•26 min
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 brilliance. In this episode, you’ll hear from Luke Jankee, principal of Verrado Elementary School in Arizona, on how he creatively applied the principles...
Jun 28, 2021•20 min
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 excluded or even criticized if the social practices of their culture are far different from the social practices recommended by an SEL curriculum. In additi...
May 13, 2021•25 min
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 responsibility. They foster separation instead of inspiring unity and connection. With Conscious Discipline, the focus is on blending effective SEL, school c...
Apr 20, 2021•17 min
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 light, be present with them, find common ground and ultimately build a relationship that jumpstarts learning both academic and social-emotional skills. ...
Mar 25, 2021•18 min
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, and developmentally appropriate activities that inspire problem-solving. These qualities closely align with Conscious Discipline, which can be implemented both during and after school. Listen in...
Jun 26, 2020•18 min
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 teach internal control of one’s own behavior (also known as self-regulation). A child who is punished may learn to control or hide a behavior when the...
Apr 27, 2020•18 min
At its core, Conscious Discipline is a relationship program. Our brain is a social brain that develops through 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 learning. In this podcast, you’ll hear from J.C. Commander, a dean of students for South Euclid-Lyndhurst City School District in Ohio. As the dean ...
Mar 13, 2020•15 min
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 into the classroom of Donna Porter, a teacher implementing Conscious Discipline. For the first time, DJ had a teacher who didn’t tell him, “Get out.” Instead, she connected with him. That connection paved...
Feb 20, 2020•28 min
Episode Summary I 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 adults. If you’re interested in incorporating I Love You Rituals into your current classroom practices, you may wonder: Where should I start? How do ...
Jan 17, 2020•26 min
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 to resolve conflicts by building a School Family. Then, we teach healthy conflict resolution skills like composure, assertiveness, and recognizing and...
Dec 16, 2019•22 min
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 April Carr and Hillary Spratlin were faced with restoring safety after acute trauma when a major tornado struck the small community of Beauregard. Bo...
Nov 18, 2019•36 min
