Social-Emotional Learning

Conscious Discipline

Conscious Discipline is an evidence-based classroom management practice that focuses on the development of social-emotional and self-regulation skills of both adults and children.  Based on an understanding of three primary brain states – Survival; Emotional; and Executive – Conscious Discipline tailors interactions that are best suited for each unique situation.  Classroom staff utilize the seven skills of Conscious Discipline, including: Composure, Encouragement, Assertiveness, Choices, Empathy, Positive Intent, and Consequences.  By providing consistency and building connection – playfulness, eye contact, physical touch, and presence – children feel safe in the classroom and develop skills of self-regulation, which is necessary for learning.

Sasha Trice - Mental Health Therapist

On-Site Mental Health Therapists

The Mental Health Therapists at Skip-a-Long centers regularly use Conscious Discipline techniques and activities as de-escalation tools in the classroom and for one-on-one coaching for teachers and students. Conscious Discipline provides a positive framework to support children who may have traumatic experiences, delayed development or behavior issues, or just need extra help with self-regulation and learning appropriate classroom behavior. Implementing this model within the centers provides the opportunity for ‘pushing in’ interventions into the classroom in a child’s natural environment, rather than traditional discipline approaches of ‘pulling out’ children who are having trouble self-regulating. Pushing interventions into the classrooms allows children and teaching staff to learn skills to self-regulate that keep children in the classroom. Keeping children in the classroom allows for more instructional time and capacity that promotes both developmental and academic learning.