In the current moment, a focus on student voice can help support students’ sense of connection and belonging and can help mitigate the uncertainty and anxiety many may be experiencing. Often, adults in schools begin by trying to resolve issues by making decisions themselves, but in trauma-sensitive schools educators ask students about what they need and listen carefully to their responses before taking action.
In the excerpt video, “A Welcoming Learning Environment Benefits Students, in School and at Home,” students at the Salem Academy Charter School, a trauma-sensitive demonstration school, share their positive experiences feeling welcomed by their school community.
In this short video, “Building Trusting Relationships Between Teachers & Students,” listen to Eddie, Destiny, Lola, and Juliebeth, students at the Salem Academy Charter School, a trauma-sensitive demonstration school, speak passionately about the impact their trusted teachers have on their education and passion for learning.
Listening to students about what they need to be successful in school is at the core of a trauma-sensitive learning community-whether in the classroom or remotely. Students are more likely to focus on and embrace learning when their voices and cultural backgrounds are respected.
We are thrilled to share with you this short video highlighting one middle/high school’s journey to create a trauma-sensitive, safe and supportive school. Highlighted in the video are the ways in which this school embraces parent engagement and student voice to help guide their efforts to create a vibrant learning community where all staff work together to create a school that embodies the values of safety, trusting relationships, connection, equity, belonging, and adaptability.
The Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative (TLPI) has been included in a recently published video wiki, “Organizations Working To Understand & Address Trauma,” which you may view here.
TLPI is pleased to share this 10 minute video highlighting one elementary school’s journey to create a trauma-sensitive, safe and supportive school by using the process-based approach outlined in Helping Traumatized Children Learn, Vol. 2.
In this post, we are excited to share the third in our three part series of short videos on the impacts of trauma on learning, classroom behavior, and relationships. One of the most important roles schools can play in the lives of students is helping them to have good relationships with peers and adults. Research indicates that positive student-teacher relationships can help increase academic engagement and performance. But for students impacted by traumatic experiences, forming and maintaining relationships with their peers and with the adults around them can be challenging. To learn more, please view the video below.
In this post, we share the second in our three part series of short videos on the impact of trauma on learning: academics, classroom behavior and relationships. Last month, we introduced the first in this series of short videos featuring TLPI training director, Joel M. Ristuccia, Ed.M. speaking about the impact of trauma on learning, Part 1: Academic Performance. This week we share Part 2 in the series, wherein the impact of trauma on classroom behavior is explored.
In previous blog posts, we shared information, tools and resources for use in creating trauma-sensitive schools. This month, we are excited to share with you an additional tool for getting started on the journey to trauma-sensitivity in your school. TLPI Training Director, Joel Ristuccia, Ed.M., recently had the opportunity to present a webinar on creating safe and supportive learning environments for all students for the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Safe and Supportive Schools grantees.