The school year is in full swing by now.  We are all into some sort of routine and continuing to work through the challenges of the pandemic.  One thing is for sure, children all over the country are still experiencing trauma.  How do we help these children through all of it?  How do we recognize and understand the trauma some of our children are enduring?  Some districts were proactive and started this years ago with training their staff in trauma-informed practices.  Other districts are only just getting started.

When can we move past the idea that a child is just naughty or behaving badly to understand trauma may have impacted this child’s learning and behavior?  I have worked with many children who were constantly in fight or flight mode.  Can you imagine the fatigue that must come with constantly being in this state?  

I had a student in Chicago who would come to school exhausted.  He would sleep through the first part of the morning after getting some food.  When I was able to get to know this student more and learned what nights were like for him, I realized allowing him to sleep and eat at the beginning of his morning was the best thing I could do to keep him engaged.  He would talk about sleeping under his bed because of the gunshots he continued to hear.  Can you imagine sleeping under your bed?  I have had other students who came to school with bruises resulting from a parent who was disciplining while others were trying to get away from a drunk family member.  

There are so many stories out there and some we would just find unimaginable but they are no less real.  How do we help these students?  How do we continue to support them?

Here are strategies for educators to try:

• Be mindful of your own feelings and emotions. Check yourself.

• Be mindful that some students will overreact at times. Honestly, we all have been there.  But supporting them through it is essential and helping provide the space and time to calm down. 

• Provide opportunities to talk or write about their experiences.

• Remember this is a form of communication. We may not like it but it is a reality.  Also try to Q-Tip it.  (Quit taking it personally)

• Try engaging the families and communicating with them about what you are seeing.

• Teach and model social and emotional skills, including positive behavior strategies.

• Utilize your school counselor or other mental health specialists. 

Other sources for support below:

Trauma Informed Teaching Strategies

A Trauma-Informed Approach to Teaching Through Coronavirus

#standreadytosupport

Restorative Solutions Consulting