A Positive Approach to Reframing Discipline

Graduate-Level Credit / Non-Credit Hours
1 Semester Credit or 15 Clock Hours

Course Description

This course equips educators to shift discipline from a reactive response to a proactive tool for connection and growth. Participants explore research-based strategies to de-escalate conflict, strengthen student accountability, and build a culture of respect, drawing on the work of Dr. Ross Greene and Dr. Bruce Perry to understand behavior as a reflection of unmet needs and lagging skills rather than defiance.

The course reframes misbehavior as an opportunity for learning, relationship-building, and trust repair. Educators examine discipline systems through an equity- and trauma-informed lens and develop practical tools to create safe, responsive, and inclusive learning environments.

Global Outcomes/Goals of the Course

To deepen and/or apply the content and skills of the teacher’s existing professional knowledge base by meeting the following global goals of the course:

1. To understand the importance of strong relationships in educational settings, recognizing their impact on student achievement and discipline.
2. To examine the role of relational strategies in preventing and addressing student conflict.
3. To evaluate current school discipline systems and develop responsive alternatives.
4. To learn methods for fostering supportive and understanding relationships with students, including mentorship, emotional support, and creating a respectful classroom culture.
5. To equip educators with skills to manage and resolve conflicts effectively, using mediation, negotiation techniques, and proactive communication strategies that foster partitive discipline strategies to build student agency and trust. 
6. To establish ongoing processes for assessing and enhancing family and student relationships, utilizing feedback to improve educational practices and setting realistic goals for relationship development and maintenance.

• Self-Paced 1
• Structured 0
• Site Based 0
• Interactive 0