This module is designed to address the critical need for trauma-informed practices in education. My experience working in underserved schools in Baltimore City, Maryland, has driven the creation of this material through the research and developments of organizations worldwide on this issue. Usually, social-emotional learning (SEL) is discussed; however, there is a growing need for understanding trauma's impact on learning, especially in underserved communities. This module integrates empirical research, practical applications, and reflective practices to support educators in fostering resilient learners and incorporating trauma-informed strategies.
Knowledge Objectives
As a result of completing this Learning Module, participants will be able to:
EXPERIENTIAL OBJECTIVES
Identify and Reflect on Trauma:
Observe and Relate to Trauma Responses:
CONCEPTUAL OBJECTIVES
Understand Core Concepts:
Distinguish Between Types of Trauma:
Recognize Educational Theories:
Identify Resilience-Building Strategies:
ANALYTICAL OBJECTIVES
Analyze Trauma-Informed Approaches:
Assess Classroom Environments:
APPLIED OBJECTIVES
Develop a Trauma-Informed Plan:
Implement Resilience-Building Activities:
Engage in Reflective Practice:
Target Learners and Curriculum Standards:
This module is designed for educators, administrators, and school support staff who work in elementary schools, particularly in underserved communities. Assumptions about prior learning include a foundational understanding of SEL and basic educational psychology principles.
Rationale and Duration:
By the end of this module, you will be equipped with practical strategies to implement trauma-informed practices in your classroom to help you create a nurturing environment where all students can thrive. You will be able to:
Duration: 2 days of 5-hour sessions, including discussions, activities, and reflection time.
Material Requirements:
Access to a computer with internet for online resources and activities such as an E-Resource book, video playback capabilities, printable handouts, and FlipChart paper and markers/pens/pencils.
Target Learners and Curriculum Standards:
The curriculum aligns with the standards for trauma-informed care in education aligned with SAMHSA’s six key principles of trauma-informed care, CASEL framework for SEL, and CEC Standards aligned with creating inclusive environments for diverse learners.
This module will enhance participants' ability to create supportive, inclusive learning environments that acknowledge and address the impacts of trauma on students' learning and development.
Rationale and Duration:
The rationale for this module is grounded in the need for trauma-informed practices in schools, particularly in communities facing significant socio-economic challenges. The module is structured to be completed in one training immersive session.
Material Requirements:
Supplementary materials include online access to trauma-informed care resources such as the E-Resource book, video playback capabilities, printable handouts (peer review handout), and FlipChart paper and markers/pens/pencils.
Content
Video: Types of Trauma (5 min)
Source: Sandstone Care (27 August 2024). Types Of Trauma | Acute, Chronic, and Complex Developmental Trauma (CDT) | Complex PTSD.
Infographic: Childhood Trauma
Source: Roots Through Recovery (n.d.). Childhood Trauma.
E-Resource Book (e-reader must be downloaded to access the book): Understanding Trauma and Its Impact: E-Resource for Educators by The National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments
Definitions of Trauma:
Acute Trauma: A single, overwhelming event, such as a natural disaster, accident, or sudden loss.
Chronic Trauma: Repeated and prolonged exposure to traumatic events, such as ongoing neglect, domestic violence, or bullying.
Complex Trauma: Exposure to multiple traumatic events, often within interpersonal relationships, such as abuse, family instability, or community violence.
Activity:
Identify and Reflect on Trauma:
Observe and Relate to Trauma Responses:
Case Study: Read the case study provided below.
Maria, a 9-year-old student, frequently zones out during lessons and has difficulty concentrating. She appears anxious when asked to participate and often refuses to engage in group work. Recently, Maria started crying uncontrollably when there was a loud noise in the classroom.
Discussion Prompt (as a group): Identify signs of trauma in Maria’s behavior. What trauma responses do you recognize, and what strategies could you use to support her?
Interactive Exercise:
Scenario-Based Role Play: Work with a partner to role-play scenarios where a student exhibits trauma responses. Discuss how you would approach the situation to make the student feel safe and supported.
Role-Play Scenarios:
Discussion Prompt (as a group):
Based on the case study and your own experience, what signs of trauma have you observed in your students? What strategies have you used, and how effective were they? How does information about the prevalence and types of trauma among students inform how your school operates day-to-day?
Pedagogical Rationale:
Teaching Strategies:
Role-Play Questions for Teachers:
Standards Alignment:
CASEL SEL Framework: Supports self-awareness, social awareness, and relationship skills.
SAMHSA’s Six Principles: Emphasizes safety, trustworthiness, peer support, collaboration, and empowerment.
Content
Video: Trauma-Informed Classroom Transformation (5 min)
Source: Collie, B. (6 August 2021). Trauma-Informed Classroom Transformation.
Infographic: Six Principles of Trauma-Informed Care
Source: White, B. (30 May 2023). 6 Principles of Trauma Informed Care.
E-Resource Book (e-reader must be downloaded to access the book): Understanding Trauma and Its Impact: E-Resource for Educators by The National Center on Safe Supportive Learning EnvironmentsFocus on the last two sections: "What is the impact of exposure to trauma?" and "What does this mean for schools?"
Definitions of Trauma-Informed Principles:
Safety: Creating environments where students feel physically and emotionally safe.
Trustworthiness and Transparency: Building relationships based on clear expectations and consistency.
Peer Support: Encouraging connections and collaboration among students.
Collaboration and Mutuality: Valuing partnerships between educators and students.
Empowerment, Voice, and Choice: Providing opportunities for students to have control and express their needs.
Cultural, Historical, and Gender Sensitivity: Recognizing and addressing cultural and gender-related factors.
Activity:
Identify and Reflect on Principles
Interactive Exercise:
Classroom Scenario Analysis: Review the following scenario and discuss how you would apply the six principles to support the student with a partner.
Jordan, a 10-year-old student, frequently avoids eye contact, has trouble staying seated, and becomes frustrated easily during independent work. He often seems to overreact to minor corrections and prefers to work alone.
How would you incorporate the principles of safety, trustworthiness, and empowerment to support Jordan in the classroom?
Discussion Prompt (as a group):
Which trauma-informed principle do you find most challenging to implement, and why? How can understanding the impact of trauma help you better apply these principles in your classroom?
Pedagogical Rationale:
Teaching Strategies (expanded):
Safety and Trust:
Peer Support and Collaboration:
Empowerment and Voice:
Cultural and Gender Sensitivity:
Supplementary Resources:
Resource: SAMHSA's Six Key Principles
Resource: Trauma-Informed Schools Toolkit
Standards Alignment:
CASEL SEL Framework: Supports self-awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.
SAMHSA’s Six Principles: Aligns with creating safe, transparent, and empowering learning environments.
Additional Reflection Exercise:
"How does adopting trauma-informed principles change your approach to classroom management and student interactions? What challenges do you anticipate, and how can you address them?"
Content
Videos: The Power of Youth Building Resilience after Trauma (8 min) and Trauma Informed Teaching (15 min)
Source: Lewis, A. (7 July 2023). The Power of Youth Building Resilience after Trauma.
Source: Fox, M. (12 July 2019). Trauma Informed Teaching.
Infographic: Building Resilience: Practical Strategies for Children
Source: The Children's Movement in Florida (11 September 2019). Building Resilience.
Definitions
Resilience: The ability to adapt, recover, and thrive in the face of adversity or significant stress.
Protective Factors: Elements that help mitigate the effects of trauma, such as supportive relationships, safe environments, and coping skills.
Activity
Identify and Reflect on Strategies
Task: In groups of three (adjust group size based on training classroom size), develop a poster highlighting strategies for building resilience in children. Your poster should include:
Materials: Flipchart paper, markers, paper, or digital design tools (e.g., Canva, Google Slides).
After completing the poster, each group will share their posters with the class and discuss ways to build resilience and grit in students.
Discussion Prompt (as a group):
What are some practical ways you can build resilience in your students? How do these activities help mitigate the impact of trauma in the classroom?
Pedagogical Rationale
Teaching Strategies
Incorporate Resilience-Building Activities:
Supportive Classroom Culture:
Additional Infographic:
Source: Cullins, A. (30 March 2024). 9 Activities To Build Grit and Resilience in Children.
Supplementary Resources:
Resource: APA Resilience Resources
Standards Alignment:
CASEL SEL Framework: Supports self-awareness, self-management, and relationship skills.
Trauma-Informed Education Principles: Aligns with creating supportive environments that promote resilience.
Reflection Exercise:
How can resilience-building activities be integrated into your daily teaching practices? What challenges might you face, and how can you address them?
Content
Video: Getting Started With Trauma-Informed Practices (5 min)
Source: Edutopia (14 January 2019). Getting Started With Trauma-Informed Practices.
Guide: Building Student Resilence Toolkit (Module 2)
Activities
Reflect and Apply
Trauma-Informed Lesson Plan
Day 1 of the Module: Develop Your Lesson Plan
Task: Design a detailed lesson plan that incorporates trauma-informed strategies and resilience-building activities. Your lesson plan should include:
Day 2: Teach and Peer Review
Teach the Lesson: Present your lesson plan to your colleagues in this space in a simulated classroom setting.
Peer Review: After the lesson is taught, the instructor will collect a physical copy of your lesson plan, hand out a physical copy of the Peer Review Rubric to all, and anonymously hand out the lesson plans to other peers. You will then complete the following:
Peer Review Rubric:
Discussion Prompt on Day 2 after Reviews are completed:
How did the feedback from your peers help you refine your trauma-informed lesson plan? What insights did you gain from reviewing others' plans?
Pedagogical Rationale
Key Components of a Trauma-Informed Lesson Plan
Teaching Strategies
Example Lesson Plan Template
Grade Level: 4th Grade
Learning Objective: Students will learn to identify and express their emotions using a feelings chart.
Trauma-Informed Strategies:
Materials: Paper, markers, feelings chart template.
Reflection: "How did using the feelings chart help you understand your emotions today?"
Peer Review Instructions
Step 1: Collect a physical copy of each participant's lesson plan
Step 2: Hand out a physical copy of the Peer Review Rubric to all participants.
Step 3: Anonymously hand out the lesson plans to other participants so it is confidential and the feedback stays anonymous.
Step 4: Collect the completed rubrics and lesson plans, and return them to the respective participants.
Standards Alignment
CASEL SEL Framework: Supports self-awareness, social awareness, and responsible decision-making.
Trauma-Informed Education Principles: Aligns with creating inclusive and supportive classroom environments.
Reflection Exercise
What was the most challenging part of implementing trauma-informed strategies in your lesson? How did the peer review process help you refine your approach?
Before Day 2 of this Learning Module, you will create a detailed lesson plan that incorporates trauma-informed strategies and resilience-building activities. The requirements are mentioned in Update 4.
On Day 2 of this Learning Module, you will complete a Peer Review of the Lesson Plans created and conducted by your peers.
Step 1: All participants will present their lesson plans to their peers in this space as a simulated classroom setting.
Step 2: Peer Review.
After the lesson is taught, the instructor will collect a physical copy of your lesson plan, hand out a physical copy of the Peer Review Rubric to all, and anonymously hand out the lesson plans to other peers. You will then complete the following:
On Day 2 of this Learning Module, you will guide participants through a simulated classroom setting where they will present their trauma-informed lesson plans. The peer review process is designed to create collaboration and critical thinking. Follow these steps to facilitate the process effectively:
Lesson Plan Presentation
Distribute Peer Review Materials
Conduct the Peer Review
Debrief Session
After completing the reviews, facilitate a debrief session where participants can share insights and reflections on the peer review process.
Encourage discussion on the following questions:
Pedagogical Rationale
Congratulations on completing the "Nurturing Resilience: Fostering Trauma-Informed Environments for Children" Learning Module! You have explored essential trauma-informed principles, strategies for supporting trauma-affected students, and ways to build resilience in the classroom.
This post-survey will help assess your learning and understanding of the key concepts covered in this module. Your responses will provide valuable insights into your readiness to implement trauma-informed practices and resilience-building activities in your classroom.
How to Complete the Survey
Your feedback is invaluable and will be used to improve future training and support for trauma-informed teaching. Thank you for your participation!
Post Knowledge Survey: Nurturing Resilience and Trauma-Informed Practices Link
Post-Survey Administration
Timing: Administer the post-survey at the end of Day 2.
Platform: Questions should be put in Google Forms to distribute the survey, and create a link to share with the participants.
Goal: Assess knowledge gains and identify areas for further growth.
Reflection: Review the open-ended responses to understand participants' plans for applying trauma-informed strategies.
Analyzing Results
Additional Tips
Assessment Plan
Your participation, lesson plan, and post-survey serves as the primary tool to evaluate your understanding and readiness to implement trauma-informed practices. The survey assesses:
Why This Matters: this assessment helps you reflect on your growth and identify areas for improvement. Your responses as well as your participation and lesson plan provide a roadmap for applying what you've learned to create supportive and resilient classroom environments.
Educational Measurement Strategy
The educational measurement strategy for this module evaluates learning outcomes through multiple methods:
Trauma-Informed Lesson Plan
Participant Engagement
Post-Survey
Evaluation Strategy
American Institutes for Research. (n.d.). Trauma-informed care in schools. https://trauma.airprojects.org/.
American Psychological Association (2012). Resilience guide for parents and teachers. https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience/guide-parents-teachers.
Black, P., Henderson-Smith, L., & Flinspach, S. (2021 September 21). Trauma-Informed, Resilience Oriented Schools Toolkit. National Center for School Safety. https://www.nc2s.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Trauma-Informed-Resilience-Oriented-Schools-Toolkit.pdf.
Collie, B. (2021 August 6). Trauma-Informed Classroom Transformation. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYbIMX6T7Xo&t=12s.
Cullins, A. (2024 March 30). Activities to build grit and resilience in children. Big Life Journal. https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/activities-grit-resilience-children.
Children’s Movement of Florida. (2019 September 11). Best in class 9: How big is your bounce? https://www.childrensmovementflorida.org/best-in-class-9-how-big-is-your-bounce.
Edutopia. (2019 January 14). Getting Started With Trauma-Informed Practices. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWIV3wWygS4.
Fox, M. (2019 July 12). Trauma-informed teaching in action. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vbN5CZCEsw&t=413s.
Ginsburg, K. R. (2020). Building resilience in children and teens. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWIV3wWygS4.
Lewis, A. (2023 July 27). The Power of Youth Building Resilience after Trauma. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oi0fPfSAFI.
National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments. (n.d.) Building Resilience Toolkit: Module 2: Building Resilience in the Classroom. https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/building-student-resilience-toolkit.
National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments. (n.d.). Understanding trauma and its impact. https://trauma.airprojects.org/.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN). (n.d.). Understanding Child Trauma and The NCTSN. https://www.nctsn.org/resources/understanding-child-trauma-and-nctsn.
Roots Through Recovery. (n.d.). Childhood Trauma and Trauma Treatment. https://roots-recovery.com/es/treatment-services/trauma/.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (2014 July). SAMHSA’s Concept of Trauma and Guidance for a Trauma-Informed Approach. https://ncsacw.acf.hhs.gov/userfiles/files/SAMHSA_Trauma.pdf.
Sandstone Care. (2024, August 27). Types of trauma: Acute, chronic, and complex developmental trauma (CDT) | Complex PTSD. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO-edr6_gSk.
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. (n.d.). Trauma-informed care in educational settings. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYbIMX6T7Xo&t=12s.
Van der Kolk, B. (2020). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma.
Walkley, M., & Cox, T. L. (2020). Building trauma-informed schools and supportive school communities. Journal of Child & Adolescent Trauma, 13(4), 507-518. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10926771.2020.1737292.
Wall, C. R. G. (2020). Relationship over reproach: Fostering resilience by embracing a trauma-informed approach to elementary education. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 30(1), 118–137. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926771.2020.1737292
White, B. (2023 May 30). The 6 principles of trauma-informed care. Exym. https://blog.exym.com/the-6-principles-of-trauma-informed-care