Running Head: Literature Review Domain E

Week 4 Literature Review Domain E

Lauren Coleman
National University

In partial fulfillment for the requirements for TED 690

Professor Clifton Johnson
June 21, 2016

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Literature Review Domain E

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Abstract

This literature review focuses on a book written by Dr. Becky A. Baily titled,
Conscious Discipline: Building Resilient Classrooms and its significance towards my
growth in Domain E of the California Teacher Performance Expectations.

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Literature Review

Author:

Dr. Becky A. Bailey

Title:

Conscious Discipline: Building Resilient Classrooms

Publisher:

Loving Guidance, Inc.

Year:

2015
Summary
Conscious Discipline is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary self-regulation

program that integrates social-emotional learning, school culture and discipline (Bailey,
2015, p. 12). While that may seem like an overwhelming number of large and
complicated words in one sentence, it really does sum up Conscious Discipline: Building
Resilient Classrooms well. It focuses on the emotional intelligence of the teacher, who in
turn imparts his or her wisdom on the students.
Dr. Bailey organizes her book into three main categories: safety, connection and
problem solving. She highlights several criteria for creating safety in the classroom.
These include: noticing students actions instead of judging them, focusing on what the
desired behaviors are instead of creating fear by highlighting the undesired behaviors,
providing a routine with pictures, maintaining your own self composure as a teacher, and
offering a safe place within the classroom for students to self-regulate their emotions
and behaviors. In order to establish connection, Dr. Baily developed the acronym
R.E.J.E.C.T. (Rituals, Encouragement, Jobs, Empathy, Choices, The School Family) to
describe how to foster a connected school environment. She spends much of Chapter 3
emphasizing The School Family, whose premise is developing relationships on
reciprocity, not power. In her last section she emphasizes the need for problem solving.

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Problem solving is impossible without vigilant focus on solutions instead of blame

(Bailey, 2015, p. 253). Students must learn to examine their behaviors, the consequences
of their choices and utilize their skills to achieve success.
Reflection and Review
Who wouldnt want a social environment within the classroom where students
were able to self-regulate and problem solve on their own? Dr. Bailey thinks that its
achievable and after reading her book she has me convinced that I will be able to run my
classroom without command and with compassion. This is an intriguing read for all
teachers, but especially those who have implemented a positive and negative rewards
system in their classroom. I think if students were introduced to Conscious Discipline in
their preschool and kindergarten years, the need for negative consequences in the
classroom would reduce significantly. While student teaching in Transitional
Kindergarten, I had the pleasure of seeing many of Dr. Baileys suggestions in practice.
The students were able to utilize a safe spot, worked hard at solving their problems with
their peers without tattling and the classroom environment was indeed a school family. I
highly suggest reading Dr. Baileys book and putting her suggestions into action!