Soundview is in the process of adopting a school-wide program, Positive Discipline. This helps us in our efforts to raise self-regulating citizens who treat others with respect and civility. Authored by Jane Nelsen and reflecting psychological principles articulated in the work of Alfred Adler, the program believes that everyone wants to feel connected, wants to be recognized, and wants to feel heard.

Traditionally “discipline” has involved rewards and, most particularly, punishment. In a Positive Discipline environment, the focus is on solutions that are reasonable, related to the concern, respectful of everyone involved, and helpful in the effort to redirect poor choices to pro-social choices. In the end, it is all about creating a safe and caring school environment, one in which risk-taking, critical thinking, and other attributes of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Learner Profile can grow and develop. To learn more about the IB, please click on the "IB Program" link under the "Academics" tab.

Current parents of preschool and 1st grade students said this about their experience:

"As our children moved into their next phase of development, we found our parent toolbox wearing thin. Soundview School's implementation of Positive Discipline and a timely class offering at the Dale Turner YMCA led us to explore PD. PD helped us see the problems with traditional methods of "discipline" and their unintended consequences. We've started implementing PD at home with welcome and "positive" changes to how we interact as a family. The class was well worth our time and we highly recommend it to other parents."

To learn more about Positive Discipline, visit the national Positive Discipline website and the site for the local Positive Discipline group:
http://www.positivediscipline.com (National)
http://www.sounddiscipline.org (Local)

Since beginning Positive Discipline work in late August, we have been committed to learning its principles and implementing them in our classrooms, on our playground and in our interactions. Once a month, the staff meets with a consultant from Sound Discipline to continue our learning and to reflect on our collective efforts to bring this initiative into reality. On Tuesday, January 12, our consultant spent the day at Soundview observing students and teachers operating in the Class Meeting configuration. After each observation, she met individually with the teachers she had observed to give them constructive and supportive feedback. In her follow-up feedback to the school, she shared some poignant and profound perspective on the impact of Positive Discipline at Soundview:

I really enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with your teachers and get to know your students a little bit.  I was impressed with how well both the students and teachers are integrating what they know into their class meetings and problem solving.

I heard sincere compliments, honest struggles with problems – and observed a lot of respect – going in all directions: students for each other, teachers for students and students for teachers.  I saw engagement, thoughtfulness and sensed a deep caring between students.

I was moved by several comments by the kids:
The hearty full class welcome of a student who came in late.  Wow… what an invitation toward belonging – and this for a kid who isn’t the easiest to deal with on the playground.

A class struggling with the perception of being left out – and making the link to segregation (after their discussion about ML King day)

Students offering up different perspectives:  I know you got pushed but it may be his way of telling you he wants to be your friend. (This astute observation from a 3rd grader)

And there were more…

Positive Discipline matters and it is truly impacting us as we strive to build a healthy and civil community through this citizenship education program. We are off to a grand beginning!