At the beginning of each school year I spend a lot of time teaching my students the routines that help keep us safe throughout the day. Research shows us that the brain functions optimally when we feel safe. In Conscious Discipline we focus on creating an optimal learning enviornment through the elements of the Brain Smart Start. Dr. Becky Bailey has shared 4 key components to creating a Brain Smart Start: Activities to unite, connect, disengage stress, and commit. For more information about Conscious Discipline go to http://www.consciousdiscipline.com.
As I begin to implement each part of the Brain Smart Start in my classroom, one of the first things I do is help my students unite as a school family through finding identity as the “Shining Stars”. I wrote a song for our class a couple of years ago that includes all parts of the Brain Smart Start. I modify it slightly each year to meet the needs of each specific group.
Here is a little video of my class singing our “Shining Star Song”. Hope you find it helpful!