See Behavior Through a Neuroscience Lens: Introducing Reframing Behavior

More than two-thirds of children experience at least one traumatic event by age 16, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This figure may be alarming, but it’s the reality we are living in. The world is facing a mental health crisis, especially among young people, which has led to an increase in disruptive behavior. Although we have countless resources and tools at our fingertips, the research can be fragmented and overwhelming.

Educators play a vital role in nurturing the growth of children and teens, and they have the power to generate and maintain healthy environments where students can learn and thrive. This starts with being able to respond to student behavior appropriately. Students exhibit the fight, flight, or freeze response in different ways. Some become argumentative or defiant (fight), others avoid stress by skipping class or assignments (flight), and some become mentally or emotionally paralyzed, leading to decreased participation (freeze).

Understanding fundamental neuroscience helps educators identify these behaviors through insights into how stressors affect the brain and body. It also allows educators to implement more supportive and inclusive classroom strategies. That’s where Reframing Behavior comes in.

Why We Created Reframing Behavior

Reframing Behavior offers a deeper look into the “why” behind behavior. Bringing together modern neuroscience research in a straightforward, valuable, and interesting way, Reframing Behavior is a schoolwide training program designed for all K-12 educators. The first-of-its-kind training provides actionable skills and tools to prevent disruptive classroom behavior by teaching educators how to regulate their own emotions while helping students exit fight, flight, or freeze mode and enter learning mode.

CPI partnered with Guy Stephens, founder and executive Director of the Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint (AASR), and Connie Persike, speech language pathologist, educational consultant, and founder of Supportable Solutions, to develop the training content for Reframing Behavior. The program is based on the principles of neuroscience, which is essential for educators today as it reveals insights into how the function and development of the nervous system directly influences student behavior, learning, and well-being.

Reframing Behavior equips educators with the skills to improve their own well-being, effectively support students, and build a positive school culture for everyone. It provides them with a clear understanding of how the brain and body react to stress, trauma, and anxiety. The training reflects the CPI mission through its emphasis on empathy, meaningful connections, personal safety, and security. By integrating neuroscience into educator training, we foster a holistic approach that goes beyond academic performance. This comprehensive approach considers students' emotional and psychological health.

Educators who are informed about neuroscience can better understand how trauma, stress, sleep, and other factors affect students' cognitive functions and emotional regulation. Armed with this knowledge, educators can develop personalized teaching approaches that address the diverse needs of their students, ultimately improving their learning capacity.

The Four Elements of Reframing Behavior

Reframing Behavior is built on four key principles to empower educators to create a framework for change, look after their students’ individual needs, and lay the foundation of their achievement and well-being.

Reframe Your Perspective presents an overview of the brain and nervous system to understand what drives our emotions and behavioral responses. Through a series of medical illustrations, educators will learn about several parts of the limbic system, including the amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus. They will also discover what happens to the brain when it experiences stress.

Reframe Your Awareness allows educators to practice emotional regulation through simple interactive experiences and defines useful terms that relate to how our bodies and minds respond to stimuli. For example:

• The window of tolerance is the optimal range of arousal in which a person can function effectively.
• Interoception is the collection of conscious and subconscious senses that provide information to a person about the internal state of their body.
• Notice, Name, & Navigate is a practice used to increase self-awareness by learning to respond thoughtfully rather than reacting emotionally to stress.

Reframe Your Actions covers practices geared toward person-centered, trauma-informed behavior support. For example:

• Assume stress behavior first.
• Think “can’t,” not “won’t.”
• Be curious and ask questions.
• Practice using positive language.

Reframe Your Relationships involves intentional practices that can make a lasting impact, such as:

• Frequent, positive interactions
• Simple, actionable ways to make points of connection with students
• Intentional listening and responding

An annual subscription to Reframing Behavior includes:

• A live virtual training session for the school’s designated Facilitator, who will be responsible for conducting training for their team
• An online course that reviews the four elements of Reframing Behavior
• An online, on-demand Learning Library for all staff filled with digital resources such as learning modules, videos, and articles
• Habit Development Activities for professional learning communities (PLCs) and staff meetings, which help reinforce concepts
• Ongoing support from the CPI team, including assistance with content setup and rolling out the training across the school or district

Learn more or contact us to see how Reframing Behavior can benefit everyone within your education system, including teachers, staff, and students.