A RESILIENCY FRAMEWORK

The Circle Of Courage

T
he Circle of Courage is a classroom management strategy based on Native American child- rearing practices.

There are four sections to the medicinal wheel depicted above, which is important to note because four is a sacred number in Native American culture. Native Americans see themselves as standing at a point with four directions they can choose to go. This is why this medicinal wheel is the circle of courage's symbol.

Native Americans reared strong, respectful, courageous children using the methods of the circle of courage. Anthropologists know that this is because of the way that the children were treated with such deep respect and self worth (Bockern, S. V., n.d).

The Circle of Courage was named so by Larry Brendtro, Martin Brokenleg, and Steve Van Bockern (n.a., n.d., Bockern, S. V., Bredntro, L. K., Brokenleg, M., n.d). The Circle of Courage fits in well with most Western frames of classroom management- Glasser, Dreikers, as well as Asian- Yin & yang, balance and harmony, and African-American as well (McIntyre, T., 2002).

Circle of Courage is a holistic approach to teaching (Moore, L., Schon, D., Thornton, n.d) which includes four sections, belonging, mastery, independence and generosity. Each section asks a question, Belonging: Where do you belong? Social groups, people etc. Mastery: What are you good at? What have you achieved? Independence: When do you feel most confident and strong? Generosity: What generous thing have you done in the last 24 hours?

The Circle of Courage is a simple, effective way to encourage positive self esteem and behaviour in schools. Reclaiming Our Youth, the book written by Larry Brendtro, Martin Brokenleg, and Steve Van Bockern (n.d), which is the main source of Circle of Courage 'doctrine', talks a lot about negative behaviours, and how the circle of courage can discourage them and give control back to children. Giving power back and building resilience in children are some important philosophies behind the circle of courage.