Distance Learning for Trauma Informed Educators
"Trauma Informed" has ben the topic of focus this year. A majority of the professional development in our district has been centered around being more trauma informed. Trauma used to be the counselor's area, only. It was part of my training for my Master's Degree and when there's trauma, usually teachers and administrators turn to me for guidance. But, now, we are training all educators to be more informed about trauma and I believe that helps us to serve our students better. Not only the students that are processing major trauma, but all students. It has started to inform everything we do from assessments, school programs, behavior interventions, etc. as we begin to look at everything through a trauma lens instead of labeling students as students with "trauma". Especially, since we can't always see trauma and we don't always know which students are dealing with trauma. Our state has passed legislation requiring trauma informed training, a trauma team, and school policies. I feel like we are moving in the right direction.
Yet, here we are as educators, experiencing trauma, ourselves! Being thrown into distance learning, not being able to see our kids, trying to work from home while taking care of our own families. That is overwhelming, scary, and well....traumatizing. And, if we feel that way, how do you think our students feel? They thrive on their routine, consistency, and the connections they have with people. this is not easy for them. So, as educators, how can we apply those principles of being trauma informed to distance learning?
1. Be flexible! Don't set hard deadlines. They may or may not have internet access. They may share devices with siblings or may not even have a device to use. Their routine may be different depending on their caregiver's schedule. They may have to babysit younger siblings during the day while parents are working an essential job out of the home or working from home. They may have to wait until the evenings or the weekends to catch up on school work. They may not make your zoom meeting because that time didn't work for them. Or, they may just be so overwhelmed that school is not a priority right now. Don't add to their stress by threatening that they will fail a class or get a lower grade because they don't know how to navigate this situation. You are an adult with college degrees and many years of life experience and it's overwhelming to you. Can you imagine how kids feel?
2. Focus on Connections. Instead of just giving your students things to do. Look for ways to connect with them. Set up a google voice number where they can text you and just chat, even if it's not about school work. Ask about their routines and how they are spending their time right now. When you have a zoom meeting, focus on sharing, letting them connect with their classmates, etc. Find out how their family has been affected. Have their parents/guardians lost jobs? Has anyone in their family been sick? Do they need to be connected to resources for financial support? Should the counselor check in on this family or this child? Do they need lunch delivery? Remember Maslow's? Those basic needs have to be met before we can learn.
3. Let academics take a backseat. Obviously, we wish learning could continue as planned, but accept the fact that it's just not going to. This distance learning in the middle of a pandemic is not going to replace what we do every day in the classroom. It's unrealistic to plan for it to. Literally, every school across the country, the world for that matter is experiencing a change in how we are doing "school" for now. Don't worry about pacing guides and standards. Let your academic work be review work so that students can retain what they have learned. We'll catch up next school year. We will meet them where they are when they return and that's okay. This is not going to affect their ability to do well in the next grade level or keep them from getting into college. Remind them of that as well. Let grades stay where they are or improve, but do not let anyone's grade go down during this time.
Yet, here we are as educators, experiencing trauma, ourselves! Being thrown into distance learning, not being able to see our kids, trying to work from home while taking care of our own families. That is overwhelming, scary, and well....traumatizing. And, if we feel that way, how do you think our students feel? They thrive on their routine, consistency, and the connections they have with people. this is not easy for them. So, as educators, how can we apply those principles of being trauma informed to distance learning?
1. Be flexible! Don't set hard deadlines. They may or may not have internet access. They may share devices with siblings or may not even have a device to use. Their routine may be different depending on their caregiver's schedule. They may have to babysit younger siblings during the day while parents are working an essential job out of the home or working from home. They may have to wait until the evenings or the weekends to catch up on school work. They may not make your zoom meeting because that time didn't work for them. Or, they may just be so overwhelmed that school is not a priority right now. Don't add to their stress by threatening that they will fail a class or get a lower grade because they don't know how to navigate this situation. You are an adult with college degrees and many years of life experience and it's overwhelming to you. Can you imagine how kids feel?
2. Focus on Connections. Instead of just giving your students things to do. Look for ways to connect with them. Set up a google voice number where they can text you and just chat, even if it's not about school work. Ask about their routines and how they are spending their time right now. When you have a zoom meeting, focus on sharing, letting them connect with their classmates, etc. Find out how their family has been affected. Have their parents/guardians lost jobs? Has anyone in their family been sick? Do they need to be connected to resources for financial support? Should the counselor check in on this family or this child? Do they need lunch delivery? Remember Maslow's? Those basic needs have to be met before we can learn.
3. Let academics take a backseat. Obviously, we wish learning could continue as planned, but accept the fact that it's just not going to. This distance learning in the middle of a pandemic is not going to replace what we do every day in the classroom. It's unrealistic to plan for it to. Literally, every school across the country, the world for that matter is experiencing a change in how we are doing "school" for now. Don't worry about pacing guides and standards. Let your academic work be review work so that students can retain what they have learned. We'll catch up next school year. We will meet them where they are when they return and that's okay. This is not going to affect their ability to do well in the next grade level or keep them from getting into college. Remind them of that as well. Let grades stay where they are or improve, but do not let anyone's grade go down during this time.
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