Positive Discipline in the Classroom: Exploring Emotions

Positive Discipline in the Classroom: Exploring Emotions

A key part of expressing feelings is being able to name them. In this picture, we can see the feeling words children brainstormed to increase their emotional vocabulary. They started with the four basic feeling categories: Mad, Sad, Glad & Scared. From there, they brainstormed what more specific feelings fit in to each of those boxes. This chart provides a visible tool to help student identify feelings they want to express in the classroom.

Positive Discipline in The Classroom: Recovery From Mistakes

Positive Discipline in The Classroom: Recovery From Mistakes

In this activity, students learn the 3 R's of recovering from mistakes. They previously discussed that mistakes are learning opportunity. Now, the focus shifts to understanding that making the mistake is less important than what we choose to do about them.

Should I Stay or Should I Go: Ending Drop-off Drama

Should I Stay or Should I Go: Ending Drop-off Drama

As each school year starts, I notice many parents struggling with how to handle morning drop offs. Children are often in tears; and parents, unsure of what to do, shift rapidly between both frustration and guilt.

Get Into The Groove: Top Tips For Back To School Bliss

Get Into The Groove: Top Tips For Back To School Bliss

Is the end of summer really here? It seems like we were just in June looking out at a few months of sunny days and a break from the school year routine. Whether you can’t wait to get your kids back in to the routine of school or you are wishing for an endless summer, it’s time to dust off the backpacks and lunch boxes and gear up for the rapidly approaching start of school.

Afternoon Delight: How Changing The Way You Come Home Can Change Your Family

Afternoon Delight: How Changing The Way You Come Home Can Change Your Family

We’ve all been there. It starts with the blissful moment of reuniting at school after being apart for the day. Hugs, smiles, news to share; and yet, the minute you get home it all seems to fall apart. No matter how much I psyched myself up for the afternoons, many days I wondered if we had some sort of toxin in the house that infused my kids with crankiness upon arrival home. Over the years working with families, I heard this same story over and over. Well, at least I wasn’t the only one.

How 2000 Teens Changed My Life

How 2000 Teens Changed My Life

Do you ever have those moments in life when you can feel yourself growing? An experience surprises us, a connection inspires us, and we get the sense that we will never be the same. And it’s a good thing.

I had one of those amazing moments, actually several of them recently, and I bet the place they occurred will surprise you: 4 days with 2000 teens.

Clowning Around: Helping Our Kids Manage Behavior

Clowning Around: Helping Our Kids Manage Behavior

On occasion, we answer reader questions on our blog. We choose questions based on the issues we frequently hear about from families we work with. In today’s post, I answer a parent’s question regarding a child who loves to entertain and needs some guidance around when he can do that.

Why We Love PEPS Program for Early Parent Support

Why We Love PEPS Program for Early Parent Support

Seattle area families are fortunate to have an amazing parent support program that starts when your baby arrives! Ask parents in the area what they should do to get ready for baby, and many will immediately say, "Call PEPS!"

Why I love Positive Discipline

Why I love Positive Discipline

For those who have read my previous posts, you know I am a huge fan of Positive Discipline. I had heard of the model before having children, but didn't really dive in to deeper learning until I became a parent.