Passionate Parent Events

The purpose of the study group is to explore with parents and teachers the context of teaching & parenting as practiced in the Ho`ala Philosophy for Education.  Participants will consider ways of structuring their homes and classrooms to support mutual respect, cooperation, and effective action.

Some examples of topics covered:

• How adults can support children in shifting inappropriate attention-getting behaviors;
• How to set up logical consequences;
• How to use natural consequences effectively;
• How to set up effective family/class meetings;
• How to promote clear and effective communication, and more.

Classes are held one night a week for 5 weeks.

Session One:  The Agreement System-Effective Discipline

Parents will learn about Ho`ala’s The Agreement System that teaches students to be responsible for and conscious of their own choices and their own behavior.  Unlike many discipline systems, which use fear or intimidation to shape behaviors, it is designed to raise awareness of how one’s actions affect self and others.

Session Two:  Seeing Children’s Behavior and Needs

All children need to experience belonging and significance.  To fill those needs, they can develop behaviors and habits which work temporarily, (attention getting, power struggle, revenge, assumed helplessness.) but don’t work in the long run.  This session provides useful insight into how such patterns get set up and why they persist.

Session Three:  Nurturing Children’s Real Needs

How can we feed children’s needs for belonging and significance?  This session provides ways to provide children with what they need to move from neediness and struggle to confidence and cooperation.

Session Four:  Avoiding Unwanted Behaviors

Parents often unwittingly perpetuate children’s behaviors.  This session shows how to avoid getting more of what we don’t want.

Session Five:  Applying it to Academics

Children want to learn, can learn, and will learn.  Parents can learn to foster children’s intrinsic self-motivation, but sometimes it’s not easy. This session presents some insights and prescriptions for encouraging lifetime learning and success. For more information please call Ho’ala School 808-621-1898, or River School 707-253-6813.