This online module introduces all school and district staff to the concept of trauma-sensitive schools and includes examples of trauma-sensitive practices across six domains: 1) support staff development; 2) create a safe and supportive environment; 3) assess needs and provide support; 4) build social and emotional …

Essential Elements of a Trauma-Informed School System Teaching trauma education and awareness. Having partnerships with students and families. Creating a trauma-informed learning environment (social/emotional skills and wellness). Being culturally responsive.

Suggestions for Helping Children Who Have Experienced Trauma

1. Not all strategies work for all children.
2. Create and maintain consistent daily routines for the classroom.
3. Tell children when something out of the ordinary is going to occur.
4. Offer children developmentally appropriate choices.

A trauma-informed classroom recognizes that when a child misbehaves or acts out in class or just simply won’t work, their behavior may have nothing to do with being naughty. In fact, their behavior may have nothing to do with the teacher or the classroom at all.

What is a trauma-sensitive school? A trauma-sensitive school is one in which all students feel safe, welcomed, and supported and where addressing trauma’s impact on learning on a school-wide basis is at the center of its educational mission.

Trauma-sensitive schools help all students feel safe to learn. For some children these experiences result in a trauma response that can lead to a cascade of social, emotional and academic difficulties that can interfere with a child’s ability to learn at school.

It aims to enhance existing knowledge of child development by focussing on those issues that are most relevant to understanding the impact of trauma. This is explored through concepts related to attachment, neurobiology and the impact of trauma on learning.

Traumatic Events and Learning Students might be distracted by intrusive thoughts about the event that prevent them from paying attention in class, studying, or doing well on a test. Exposure to violence can lead to decreased IQ and reading ability. Some students might avoid going to school altogether.

How to Help a Traumatized Child in the Classroom

1. The scourge of complex trauma.
2. Strategies for teachers.
3. 1) Recognize that a child is going into survival mode and respond in a kind, compassionate way.
4. 2) Create calm, predictable transitions.
5. 3) Praise publicly and criticize privately.

In trauma-informed yoga (TIY), the teacher does not use directive language, but instead (very intentionally) uses invitational language in an attempt to make the practice more of a choice. The people that we work with have had a lot of trauma and very little choice – especially those who are incarcerated.

Trauma-Sensitive Perspective Shifting Perspectives Shifting Perspectives Core Principles Understand trauma and its impact. Believe that healing happens in relationships. Ensure emotional and physical safety. View students holistically.

Teachers trained in trauma will use specific anti-bullying lessons to teach their students how to identify a bully, deal with a bully themselves, and help their classmates deal with a bully. Anti-bullying lessons begin with building a community in the classroom.

Dimmed lights: Most classrooms today use fluorescent lights. These are colder, blue, bright lights. They do not evoke the warmth a trauma-informed classroom needs, so try just dimming the lights or turning off a row for one part of your lesson.

Almost 80 percent of these early traumas occurred at home and were perpetrated by the children’s own parents (HHS 2015). Many early childhood educators are likely to encounter young children who have experienced trauma on a daily basis.