The teachers and teacher assistants at
Discovery Prep Academy use an extremely effective strategy
known as positive guidance to help children learn appropriate
behaviors. This involves guiding children in a kind,
respectful, and positive manner, which increases their
likelihood to make acceptable choices. Our teachers
distract children from the undesirable behavior and
redirect them to choose appropriate behaviors as a means
to help them learn positive interactions.
Our teachers of children in the older
age groups praise children for positive behavior choices
by specifically stating the positive behavior observed.
When necessary, they point out the unacceptable behavior
and ask the children questions to help them realize
why a behavior is unacceptable and what other acceptable
behaviors may have been chosen for the given situation.
If necessary, our teachers explain the acceptable alternatives
appropriate for a given circumstance. Most importantly,
we never associate discipline with toileting, napping,
or food, as we comply with Florida law, which prohibits
these types of inappropriate discipline. Since we use
positive guidance, we never discipline in a harsh or
humiliating manner. Likewise, we prohibit the use of
physical punishment.
For the protection of all children, we
temporarily remove an upset child who displays out of
control behavior or signs of physical aggression from
the group. This provides the upset child with quiet
renewal time and protects other children from possible
harm. If behavior problems persist, a Director or an
Assistant Director informs parents of any continued
behavior problems and requests a conference to address
them. A conference provides an opportunity for administration,
parents and teachers to work together to resolve unacceptable
behaviors as quickly as possible. If behavior problems
persist despite varied intervention strategies or if
they reach a level of severity that threatens the safety
of the upset child, the safety of other children or
the safety of our staff members, whenever we deem that
we cannot meet the needs of the child, we inform the
enrolled family of the need to seek an alternative program.
