Trauma-Informed Teaching in a Modern Classroom

Let’s stop to reflect on this alarming reality: more than 2 in 3 children in the United States experience a traumatic event by the age of 18. Our students, from the time they are born to when they leave our high schools, will likely experience tragedy, loss, neglect, or abuse—and the social, emotional, academic, and neurological results are often apparent in our classrooms. Teachers have an integral role in trauma-informed care, but most of us did have a dedicated teacher-preparation course in understanding the impacts of trauma or having ongoing professional development in trauma-informed teaching practices. Additionally, the majority of publications on childhood trauma and trauma-informed care are written for mental health care professionals and not educators.

A model to support students

The Modern Classrooms Project was founded by educators who wanted their instruction and classroom culture to be more responsive to needs of all students, including those who had experienced years of toxic stress. The Modern Classrooms instructional model lends itself well to trauma-informed teaching practices, particularly around:

• Students’ sense of belonging

• Re-centering after a triggering event

• Aiding cognition

• Building executive functioning skills

Our webinar and accompanying guide examines specific impacts of trauma on a child’s neurological development and provides concrete teaching strategies Modern Classrooms educators can employ in their classrooms.