Trauma
An exceptional experience in which powerful and dangerous events overwhelm a person's capacity to cope.
What is trauma?
These needs are sought after in students who look to us to give them tools and skills for understanding their bodies' biology and to help them learn ways to achieve and sustain regulation.
What are emotional needs?
A meaningful connection with another human being.
What is relationship?
These three things need to be kept in mind when designing interventions.
What is purpose, intent, and outcome?
Index cards with recorded answers.
What is a way to learn about your students?
A setting where stakeholders have some knowledge about childhood trauma and are versed in related strategies. Have found ways to incorporate social-emotional practices with academics.
What is a trauma-informed environment?
This need is sought after in students who look to others to help them feel safe and regulated. They rely on someone else to regulate them, their feelings, and their experiences.
What is the need for a relational connection?
A sense of self-worth, efficacy, and competence.
What is responsibility?
Students that struggle with getting into an staying in their "upstairs" brains. Often best supported with these types of interventions.
What are regulation interventions?
Instead of saying "I'll never..." to "I haven't yet...", "What's wrong with you?" to "What do you need?", "I have to.." to "I get to...".
What is reframing your mindset?
A setting that lacks safety and is actively unsafe for students and/or adults. Are deficit-focused with practices centered on highlighting the problem.
What is a trauma-inducing environment?
These needs are sought after by students that do not get enough food or healthy nutrition, they are sleep deprived, or don't feel well. There is something physically disrupting to them and their bodies cannot regulate and are not in a learning-ready state.
What are physical needs?
The ability to take in stimuli and manage emotional and behavioral responses accordingly.
What is regulation?
Students who struggle with trusting relationships and have high needs for predictability and control are best suited for these types of interventions.
What are responsibility interventions?
This strategy can be done at the start of the day or during transition times. A simple way to gain information, build trust, solve problems, and bring people together.
What is a huddle?
A setting where stakeholders are working together to enhance safety across the board. Incorporates whole child learning and supports practices aimed at student success.
What is a trauma-invested environment?
This need is shown in students that feel like they are powerless. They have learned that they cannot rely on people and are often left to their own devices to manage and make sense of the world.
What is a need for control?
Check-ins, praise, hugs/high fives/handshakes, sharing circles.
What are strategies to help build relationship?
Sleep, brain food, water, exercise, breathe, teamwork, challenge, limited screen time, laughter, gratitude.
What are 10 things the brain needs in order to be healthy?
Are used to help with sensory processing or body movement so that a student can focus. Using items such as exercise balls for seating, weighted vests, fidgets, or soft materials to rub and calm.
What are brain tools to help with regulation?
A setting that does not take childhood trauma into consideration in its policies and practices. Sees academic as separate from social-emotional practices.
What is a trauma-indifferent environment?
Students find unique ways of showing us what they need. Focusing on how they are asking in not nearly as effective as focusing on what they are needing.
What is need vs. behaviour?
Brain breaks, water/healthy snack, exercise, mindfulness, laughter, safe break.
What are strategies for regulation.
Understanding and validating someone else's reality to help us see the true meaning behind the behaviour rather than an attack.
What is empathy?
Music, a notification to prepare for the transition, a moment of mindfulness, or a simple saying.
What are strategies to help with transitions?