A powerful, practical guide for education professionals passionate about joining the trauma-sensitive schools' movement. The four R's framework charts a clear path forward for educational leaders interested in learning more about how to effectively 'walk the walk' when implementing system wide and individually focused trauma informed strategies."

"Building Trauma-Sensitive Schools is a practical, accessible guide to building learning environments that ensure safety, develop regulation skills, and grow caring relationships for all students, including those who have experienced trauma"--

Educators must both respond to the impact of trauma, and prevent trauma at school. Trauma-informed initiatives tend to focus on the challenging behaviors of students and ascribe them to circumstances that students are facing outside of school. This approach ignores the reality that inequity itself causes trauma, and that schools often heighten inequities when implementing trauma-informed practices that are not based in educational equity. In this fresh look at trauma-informed practice, Alex Shevrin Venet urges educators to shift equity to the center as they consider policies and professional development. Using a framework of six principles for equity-centered trauma-informed education, Venet offers practical action steps that teachers and school leaders can take from any starting point, using the resources and influence at their disposal to make shifts in practice, pedagogy, and policy. Overthrowing inequitable systems is a process, not an overnight change. But transformation is possible when educators work together, and teachers can do more than they realize from within their own classrooms.

Growing evidence supports the important relationship between trauma and academic failure. Along with the failure of “zero tolerance” policies to resolve issues of school safety and a new understanding of children’s disruptive behavior, educators are changing the way they view children’s academic and social problems. In response, the trauma-sensitive schools movement presents a new vision for promoting children’s success. This book introduces this promising approach and provides K–5 education professionals with clear explanations of current research and dozens of practical, creative ideas to help them. Integrating research on children’s neurodevelopment and educational best practices, this important book will build the capacity of teachers and school administrators to successfully manage the behavior of children with symptoms of complex developmental trauma. “Kudos! Susan Craig has done it again. After Reaching and Teaching Children Who Hurt, she has written a book that will help administrators and educators truly make schoolwide trauma sensitivity a regular part of the way their schools are run. A major contribution to education reform.” —Susan Cole, director, Trauma and Learning Policy Initiative, Massachusetts Advocates for Children, and Harvard Law School. “Dr. Craig’s message is clear that promoting self-reflection, self-regulation and integration gives traumatized children the chance at learning that they’re not getting in traditional approaches. And she bravely points out that it’s critical for teachers to recognize the toll that this emotional work can take and the need for self-care. Being mindful of both the importance of trauma sensitive systems and the enormity of the task of helping vulnerable children build resilience is so critical for everyone working with and caring for our children.” —Julie Beem, MBA, Executive Director of the Attachment & Trauma Network, Inc.

In this follow-up to her bestseller, Trauma-Sensitive Schools, Susan Craig provides secondary school teachers and administrators with a trauma-sensitive approach to instruction that will improve students’ achievement. The text provides an overview of the effects of three types of trauma on adolescent development: early childhood adversity, community violence, and systemic inequities. Book Features: Provides an overview of the effects of three types of trauma on adolescent development: early childhood adversity, community violence, and systemic inequities.Links the effects of trauma on students’ cognitive development to educational reform efforts.Integrates research on adolescents’ neurodevelopment and current educational best practices.Builds the capacity of education professionals to successfully manage the behavior of adolescents with symptoms of complex developmental trauma. “Susan Craig’s book provides the scientific evidence and the reasons why it is so critical that schools take this new path in serving our students.” —From the Foreword by Jim Sporleder, principal profiled in the documentary Paper Tigers “A uniquely comprehensive and accessible resource for all educators and school administrators.” —Eric Rossen, National Association of School Psychologists “An in-depth look into the impact of trauma on the adolescent brain along with ideas about how educators can support student learning. This is an essential book for any secondary educator or administrator.” —Sara Daniel, director of clinical services, SaintA, Milwaukee, WI

Selected as a "Favorite Book for Educators in 2018" by Greater Good. From the author of Mindfulness for Teachers, a guide to supporting trauma-exposed students. Fully half the students in U.S. schools have experienced trauma, violence, or chronic stress. In the face of this epidemic, it falls increasingly to teachers to provide the adult support these students need to function in school. But most educators have received little training to prepare them for this role. In her new book, Tish Jennings—an internationally recognized leader in the field of social and emotional learning—shares research and experiential knowledge about the practices that support students' healing, build their resilience, and foster compassion in the classroom. In Part I, Jennings describes the effects of trauma on body and mind, and how to recognize them in students' behavior. In Part II, she introduces the trauma-sensitive practices she has implemented in her work with schools. And in Part III, she connects the dots between mindfulness, compassion, and resilience. Each chapter contains easy-to-use, practical activities to hone the skills needed to create a compassionate learning environment.

Trauma-Sensitive Schools: The Importance of Instilling Grit, Determination, and Resilience is written with the consideration of the important and effective role educators and other staff who work with children every day can have on children of trauma. Daily supportive interactions from caring adults can bring healing, while using strategies in a school setting that can promote learning for children of trauma. The purpose of this book is to both support schools in their creation of trauma sensitive school systems and classrooms and provide practical strategies for educators to implement in the classroom. The strategies provided will support children and young people in their learning, their self-regulation and relationship skills. Skills such as grit, determination and resilience can be taught, and this book will provide all readers with ways to support children of trauma. The importance of understanding how trauma impacts cognitive, behavioral and social growth is emphasized with key terms outlined and discussed. This text is applicable for any pre-service teacher studying to become an educator as well. Self-care strategies for educators are also included to reduce the risk of secondary trauma and to effectively teach all children but especially children of trauma.