Real Talk for Real Teachers with Dr. Becky Bailey and special guest Nicole Mercer
You may also be interested in our podcast episodes on navigating lockdowns from an administrator’s perspective, from an educator’s perspective, and from Dr. Bailey’s perspective.
Episode Summary
Episodes of school violence, including mass shootings, have left educators with unique challenges in providing for students’ physical and emotional safety. They’ve also left parents with the added challenge of explaining these events and creating a sense of safety for children who sometimes feel unsafe at school.
Each day teachers and students enter their work and learning environments with a certain amount of stress and anxiety. Active shooter drills and school lockdowns are necessary safety precautions; however, they often add to this stress. As parents, we can support schools in their efforts to keep students physically and emotionally safe by attuning with our children’s social-emotional health before and after active shooter drills, lockdowns and other disturbing events.
Listen as high school student Hannah Mercer and her mother, Nicole Mercer, share their experiences with active shooter situations and lockdown drills.
Essential Takeaways
- Communicating and practicing procedures with students before lockdown situations is essential to reducing panic and anxiety during these events.
- Adults must practice self-calming first, and then support children in doing the same during lockdowns.
- Once the lockdown or drill is over, make extra time for connection and for students to talk about their experiences.
Steps For Tomorrow – from the students perspective
- Teachers, talk with your students about lockdown procedures and walk through them before the actual drill takes place.
- Teachers, practice self-calming when directing students during drills and while providing information to let know students know they are safe.
- When drills are over, offer deep breathing activities and reassurance that students are safe. Utilize the day for review rather than teaching new content.
Steps For Tomorrow – from the parents perspective
- Learn about the school’s lockdown procedures so you can reflect and talk with your children before and after these experiences happen at school.
- On the same day of the event, create time at home for children to share their thoughts and feelings about lockdown situations.
Important Links
- ConsciousDiscipline.com
- Navigating Lockdowns from an Educator’s Perspective
- Navigating Lockdowns from an Administrator’s Perspective
- Navigating Lockdowns from Dr. Bailey’s Perspective
Product Mentions
- The NEW Conscious Discipline Book – Expanded & Updated
- Webinars: Understanding Trauma with Dr. Becky Bailey
- Feeling Buddies for Families Toolkit
Show Outline
- :20 What is Conscious Discipline?
- 2:54 Introduction of student guest Hannah Mercer
- 3:42 Hannah’s experience of first school lockdown
- 8:37 Returning to school activities after lockdown
- 11:53 Managing subsequent lockdowns
- 15:34 Returning to school after an active shooter situation
- 17:26 What could teachers do to be helpful before, during and after a lockdown?
- 23:32 Introduction of parent guest Nicole Mercer
- 25:17 Bringing Conscious Discipline home
- 26:04 Story of responding from an old skillset vs. the Conscious Discipline skillset
- 28:48 Responding to siblings during conflict
- 30:40 Parent reactions during school lockdown
- 34:19 What happens when you reconnect with your child after a lockdown?
- 37:50 Reflecting on the impact of lockdowns for your child
- 40:30 Do you worry about your child going to school?
- 41:25 Recommendations for parents
- 46:10 What’s Becky up to?
Thank You for Listening
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On behalf of our Conscious Discipline family, we wish you well.