''Lesson One: What is trauma?''
Introduction
In this first lesson, you will learn what trauma is and the different types of trauma. Understanding what trauma is, is the first step in creating a trauma sensitive classroom. You will additionally learn about the different types of trauma. Students who have experienced trauma is more common then teachers think.
Learning Objectives of Lesson One
- Learners will define trauma
- Learners will identify different types of trauma
- Learners will find their own ACE score
Materials
Computer with internet access, Google Docs Responses and Reflection
Learning Task
What is trauma? In your Response and reflection document, think and reflect/write about the following questions: How would you define trauma? Are there characteristics of trauma? Are all large negative events experienced by someone, trauma? After answering those questions, watch the following YouTube video (Although it was made for an Australian audience, the message is the same).Trauma Although people may expereince a traumatic event, it may not lead to trauma. Trauma happens when a person cannot cope with the event or situation. Craig and Sporleder (2007) write, "Trauma depends not only on the event, but also on the availability of resoures that can help a person respond to the situation, manage their reaction, and regain a sense of equanimity and control" (p.16). Answer question 4 in your Reponse and Reflection doc.
Different Types of Trauma
On your Responses and Reflections doc, brainstorm and list as many different types of trauma.
After brainstorming, go to Types of Trauma. Explore the website and look at a specific type of trauma. On your Response and Reflection doc, write the trauma you choose and list any resources that posted and write how you could use them.
How prevalent is trauma in the classroom? Craig (2017) cites a study by Pickens, Siegfried, Surko, & Dierkhising, 2016, which found that 46 million american youths out of 76 million have expereinced trauma. In other words, 60% of American youths have expereince trauma (p. 16).
What is an ACE score?
ACE stands for, Adverse Childhood Experiences and is a questionaire that asks 10 questions. It was a study that found negative health effects in adulthood that steemed from toxic stress or trauma as a kid. Every question that is answered "Yes" counts as 1 ACE. Out of 10 quesions, how many ACE's do you think you have? Write the number down in your Responses and Reflections doc. Then watch the following video ACE After watching the video, go to Find your ACE and take the quiz. Write how many ACE's you have.
Reflection
Answer the following questions in your Response and Reflection Journal:
1. How do you think trauma or a high ACE score affects students in the classroom (learning and behavior)?
2. What strategies do you think could foster a trauma sensitive classroom?
3. Can you think of any former or current students that you think had a high ACE score? Reflect on their learning and behavior. Did you employ any strategies to help? What did you think of them, their behavior or learning?
If you scored 1 or more on your ACE questionaire, reflect on the following questions:
These reflection questions are from Jennings (2019) pg. 27-28.
1. Think of a situation in your past related to your ACE score. Write about the story and how you feel.
2. How did this experience affect your academic performance and behavior in school?
3. Put yourself in your teachers' shoes. What do you think they thought?
4. Did a teacher or aide provide support? What did they do?
5. How did the event/situation affect your relationship with your peers?
Conclusion of Lesson One
Trauma is not just experiencing a traumatic event. It is not being able to cope after a traumatic event. There are many different types of trauma that students can experience and you will have students in your classroom who have experienced trauma. It will always be important to remember that in every classroom, there will be a student who has expereinced trauma.
Lessons
Lesson Two: The Effects of Trauma
Lesson Three: Strategies to Create a Trauma Sensitive Classroom
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Links
Creating a Trauma Sensitive Classroom Portfolio
References
Craig, S. E., & Sporleder, J. (2017). Trauma-sensitive schools for the adolescent years: Promoting resiliency and healing, grades 6-12. New York: Teachers College Press.
Jennings, P. A. (2019). The trauma-sensitive classroom: Building resilience with compassionate teaching. New York: W.W. Norton & Company.