Students arrive at school each day with a variety of challenges; unfortunately, one challenge many students face is having experienced trauma.
According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, more than two-thirds of children will have experienced at least one traumatic event by the time they reach age 16.
Trauma associated with a variety of issues can significantly affect a student’s ability to learn. But educators who are trained in trauma-informed teaching can implement strategies to address the impediments to learning that trauma introduces. By creating a safe learning environment for students and following other trauma-informed teaching practices, educators can support students who are facing the effects of trauma and help improve their educational outcomes.
Anyone who is considering earning a degree in education should learn about teaching students who are affected by trauma and the benefits of employing trauma-informed educational strategies.
What Is Trauma-Informed Teaching?
Students can experience trauma related to any of a host of factors such as abuse, neglect, community violence, domestic violence, stress or a natural disaster. These experiences can lead to students’ being fearful, withdrawn or angry, which can make it more difficult for them to learn. Using trauma-informed teaching practices enables teachers to help students address these challenges and get the most out of their education.
Think of trauma-informed teaching as a set of practices designed to create a safe and supportive environment for students who are facing or have faced trauma. These practices take into account the ways in which trauma can affect students, and they seek to help students feel more empowered. Trauma-informed teaching practices are meant to improve students’ ability to feel secure and help them form trusting relationships with teachers.
Characteristics of Trauma-Informed Teaching
Employing trauma-informed practices when teaching students involves:
- Cultivating strong relationships with students. Teachers create relationships with students that are based on trust.
- Instilling feelings of safety. Teachers work to ensure that students feel they are in a safe environment throughout the entire school day, in any location on campus.
- Demonstrating compassion. Teachers refrain from judging students’ behavior and, instead, show students compassion.
- Enabling students to express their feelings. Teachers help students communicate by actively listening to them and encouraging them to communicate both orally and in writing.
- Providing students with positive reinforcement. Teachers take advantage of opportunities to give students honest feedback regarding their successes and accomplishments.
- Recognizing triggers and acknowledging students’ need for additional help. Teachers know which activities or other educational approaches might trigger traumatic responses in students. Additionally, teachers remain alert to signs that students may need additional support services or counseling.
Trauma-Informed Teaching Benefits in the Classroom
Using trauma-informed teaching practices can result in a wide range of benefits. Some examples of these benefits are highlighted below.
Improved Student Resilience
Trauma-informed teaching can boost students’ resilience, which can lessen the effects of trauma and make it easier for students to learn. Teaching students using trauma-informed approaches enables students to build emotional intelligence and feelings of belonging, which can also facilitate learning.
Enhanced Student Focus
By strengthening students’ ability to focus, trauma-informed teaching can improve students’ school attendance and reduce their disciplinary issues. Using trauma-informed teaching methods can also result in fewer incidents in which students become physically aggressive.
Better Academic Outcomes
Because trauma-informed practices can create an environment in which students improve their ability to learn, the ultimate result of trauma-informed teaching is improvement in students’ overall academic outcomes.
Improved Campus Culture for All Students and Teachers
Creating an atmosphere of compassion through trauma-informed teaching can change the entire culture of a school for the better, which can benefit all of the school’s students and teachers.
Greater Teacher Confidence
Teachers who employ trauma-informed teaching practices have more strategies at their disposal and can opt for more compassionate approaches to addressing students’ learning challenges. This can empower teachers and give them a greater sense of confidence in their work.
How to Develop Trauma-Informed Teaching Skills
Educators can acquire trauma-informed teaching skills through a variety of channels. For example, they can:
- Seek professional development. Teachers who have the opportunity to enroll in professional development courses can seek specialized training and workshops in trauma-informed teaching.
- Look for informal opportunities to learn. Teachers can share their strategies and tips regarding trauma-informed teaching methods at staff meetings or in their informal communication with fellow teachers.
- Consider earning a graduate degree. Earning a graduate degree such as a master’s degree in exceptional child education enables individuals to take courses on becoming a trauma-informed professional.
- Coordinate with other school staff and administrators. Teachers can turn to other professionals such as school counselors, social workers, school nurses or administrators who have knowledge they can share about how to use trauma-informed approaches to teaching.
- Research the use of technology to aid in trauma-informed teaching. Using certain types of interactive technology in the classroom such as online journals or online class polls can encourage students to feel more comfortable expressing themselves and communicating their views.
- Access resources that offer advice and best practices. Organizations such as the National Education Association, the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments offer educators a variety of resources and recommendations regarding trauma-informed teaching.
Trauma-Informed Teaching Helps Students Achieve Academic Success
When students have teachers who employ trauma-informed teaching practices, they can learn in environments that improve their odds for academic success. Trauma-informed teaching approaches enable educators to offer instruction in ways that acknowledge the challenges students face and that encourage students to engage in the learning process.
Individuals who are seeking advanced expertise in teaching can explore the education degree programs that SEMO Online offers to learn how our programs can help them reach their career goals. For example, SEMO Online offers the following graduate education degree programs:
For individuals who are looking for specific training related to trauma, SEMO Online also offers a Trauma and Resiliency Studies Certificate Program.
SEMO Online’s programs offer educators and aspiring educators the knowledge and skills they need to advance on the education career path. Take the first step toward achieving your career ambitions in education today.
Recommended Readings
5 Tips to Choose a Graduate School
Types of Education Master’s Degrees
Types of Leadership Styles in Education
Sources:
EBSCO, “Trauma-Informed Teaching”
National Association of State Boards of Education, “Trauma-Informed Practices: A Whole-School Policy Framework”
National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments, The Trauma-Informed Teacher Tip Guide
National Child Traumatic Stress Network, Resources
National Education Association, “Trauma-Informed Practices”
Southeast Missouri State University, Exceptional Child Education, Master of Arts (MA)
U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Child Trauma
Vector Solutions, “The Importance of Trauma-Informed Education Training”