Becoming Sensitive and Responsive toward Students of Trauma
Presenter Name(s)
Beth Mines
Target Audience
Elementary
Abstract
Students experiencing trauma represent 20% of school populations. Neuroscience shows that trauma affects the development of the brain, which then affects student's behavior and ability to learning. Children of trauma are frequently less responsive to traditional supports such as positive reinforcement, consequences and behavior contracts. This presentation expands the awareness of types of trauma affecting children and describes easy-to-teach strategies counselors can share with teachers. Become an advocate for trauma awareness at your school!
Description
Learning Objectives: Participants will
1) Be able to name criteria for trauma described by ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences).
2) Be able to understand the impact of trauma on the brain's development
3) Become familiar with resources to learn more about trauma
4) Learn a variety of strategies to share with classroom teachers about how to respond to and build positive relationships with these students.
Content for the presentation is gathered from the presenter's research over the past three years including multiple texts (The Social Neuroscience of Education; Reaching and Teaching Children Who Hurt; The Dance of Attachment; Helping Children Succeed; Treating Traumatic Stress in Children and Adolexcents), 20 hours of webinar training presented by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network and attendance at Georgia Association for Play Therapy conferences over the past 6 years.
Participants will be encouraged to share experiences with partners (while maintaining confidentiality), and to ask questions. Participants will leave with powerpoint notes, and a list of resources and descriptions of easy-to-teach interventions for counselors to share with classroom teachers.