Sabestine Hernandez
EDT503 Summer 2021
July 18, 2021
Figure 1 Brain States, Conscious Discipline
This is an image of the emotional brain states presented by Dr. Becky Bailey, the creator
of Conscious Discipline. Conscious Discipline is “a social and emotional intelligence classroom
management program designed to give teachers the discipline skills they need to address the
emotional and social issues of children in the twenty-first century” (Bailey). Dr. Bailey explains
that children are in one-of-three brain states, survival, emotional, and executive. The emotional
state characterizes each brain state that the child is feeling in those moments. The most primal
and basic is the survival state, often referred to as the lizard brain; in this state, the child needs
immediate intervention with clear, calming communication to regulate the child and dispel the
stress hormones. In this state, the child is only concerned with safety, fight, flight, or hide; at
this point, the child cannot function at a higher level and therefore must be regulated before
moving on. Moving up through the brain states, we encounter the emotional state, when in this
state a child they are very verbal, “sass, arguing, yelling, blaming, shaming” (Bailey). When in
this state, the child needs verbal reassurance and connectedness. Providing positive
encouragement at this point will keep the child from slipping into a survival state. Finally, the
highest level of emotional brain states is the Executive state; in this state, “wisdom, conflict
resolution skills, creativity, learning, flow, and intentional responses are seeded” (Bailey). It is
in this state the children can learn, problem-solve, and create.
As a family engagement coordinator, I host parent meetings often. As we have
implemented the Conscious Discipline (CD) in the curriculum, we work with parents to get them
on board and supporting us in their homes. To better equip parents, we facilitate CD training.
This image has significantly helped explain to parents the emotional states, where they lie in the
brain and show a progressive order of the brain as it functions from one state to the next. This
image has helped me to both remember and explain to parents this process.
The image of the brain is a cross-section that shows the different areas beginning with the
brain stem, moving through the limbic system, and ending the prefrontal lobe. Connie Malamed
explains that color can be used as a visual cue. You can create a visual cue by “using a
contrasting color in the form of a highlight” (Malamed, 213). In this image, the different regions
of the brain are color-coded, starting with red, a color that often symbolized danger or alert. It is
this color that represents the survival states. Next, the limbic system is represented by the color
blue, which is a neutral color. Finally, the Prefrontal lobe is colored green, a safe color associated
with the executive state, where the child is secure and free to move forward. In addition to color
highlights, the image also includes arrows that Malamed explains “can focus attention on a very
specific area” (Malamed, 216). In this case, the “specific area” text indicating that this area of
the brain is associated with a specific behavior/ trait that characterizes this particular brain state.
The arrows make it clear which area goes with which text.
Moving onto text in the image, it is simple, straightforward, and clear. Although it is
bulleted, it is placed in a shape; Malamed explains that texted list can be engaging and, “you can
take this one step further by adding a relevant icon to each shape to make it memorable and
aesthetically pleasing” (Malamed, 231). The image of the brain states also includes icons; that
accompany each text group to reinforce the connection and describe the brain state itself. These
icons are repeated throughout the Conscious Discipline curriculum.
Reference:
Bailey, R. A. (2001). Conscious Discipline: 7 basic skills for brain smart classroom
management. Conscious Discipline.
Bailey, B. (2020, April 30). The Basics of the Conscious Discipline Brain State Model.
Conscious Discipline. https://consciousdiscipline.com/the-basics-of-the-conscious-
discipline-brain-state-model/.
Malamed, C. (2015). Visual design solutions: Principles and creative inspiration for learning
professionals. John Wiley & Sons.
