From Behaving to Belonging

<p><strong>Challenging behavior is one of the most significant issues educators face.</strong> Though it may seem radical to use words like <em>love</em> <em>compassion</em> and <em>heart</em> when we talk about behavior and discipline the compassionate and heartfelt words actions and strategies teachers employ in the classroom directly shape who students are--and who they will become. But how can teaching from the heart translate into effective supports and practices for students who exhibit challenging behavior?</p><p>In <em>From Behaving to Belonging</em> Julie Causton and Kate MacLeod detail how teachers can shift from a behavior management mindset (that punishes students for bad behavior or rewards students for good or compliant behavior) to an approach that supports all students--even the most challenging ones--with kindness creativity acceptance and love.</p><p>Causton and MacLeod's approach</p><p>* Focuses on students' strengths gifts and talents.<br />* Ignites students' creativity and sense of self-worth.<br />* Ensures that students' social emotional and academic needs are met.<br />* Prompts teachers to rethink challenging behavior and how they support their students.<br />* Helps teachers identify barriers to student success in the cultural social and environmental landscape.<br />* Inspires teachers to reconnect with their core values and beliefs about students and teaching.</p><p>We need to transform our classrooms into places of love. To that end this book represents a paradigm shift from a punitive mindset to a strengths-based loving approach and encourages the radical act of creating more inclusive and caring schools.</p>