Category: Trauma-informed
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What We Got Wrong About Discipline
It is common to associate discipline with punishment, for some, that includes spanking, beating, and other severe forms of what is now considered abuse. I know that some claim they are “okay” even after experiencing these practices. However, I have yet to see any credible evidence that disproves my belief that they did little more…
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From Tough Love to Trauma-Informed: An Educator’s Journey Toward Transformational Teaching
Twenty-six years ago, I began my teaching career with a passion for making a difference and the advice, “Don’t let them see you smile until January.” My first position was teaching third grade in a predominantly Black, low-income community. I entered the classroom ready to love my students and lead them with firm expectations and…
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We Don’t Understand You: Understanding Trauma Matters
For the longest time, humans knew next to nothing about the organ that resides in their own skull: the brain. A vital organ that controls our actions, thoughts, and behaviors. A price of misunderstanding the workings of the brain has led to detrimental effects, like traumas known as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). From a multitude…
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Children are Humans First
I was sitting on the floor with some preschoolers, playing cars. It was time to clean up. “I don’t want to clean up,” one cried. I had two choices. I could take the typical approach, double down, and make sure he knew the expectation (a ridiculous concept — he clearly knew it, enough to be…
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Challenging Outdated Practices in Behavioral Assessment: A Call for Change
In an era where education must rise to meet the needs of all learners, the recently released guidance titled “Using Functional Behavioral Assessments to Create Supportive Learning Environments” (November 2024) fails to reflect approaches grounded in trauma-sensitive care, neuroscience, and neurodiversity-affirming practices. The guidance reinforces outdated frameworks that prioritize managing behavior over fostering safety, connection,…
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Living Inside the World of Anxiety
In June of 2024, “Inside Out 2” hit the theaters with a rush of interest and validation from all age groups, bringing the emotion of anxiety front and center into our own worlds. Riley, the 13-year-old protagonist, experiences rising tension, a rapid heartbeat, and whirring sensations in her body as her nervous system is pushed…
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Comprehensive Strategies for Fostering Cognitive and Emotional Growth in Trauma-Affected Children
Children placed in out-of-home care often face trauma and various adversities that significantly impact their cognitive, emotional, and social development. While trauma-informed practices offer a foundation, there is a growing need for targeted, long-term strategies that directly address cognitive challenges and foster recovery.
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Convince Your Supervisor that You Should Complete Our New Course “Restraint and Seclusion in Schools”
Would you like to complete our new online training course “Restraint and Seclusion in Schools: What Educators, Administrators, and Related Professionals Need to Know” but need to convince your supervisor? We’ve got you covered! Alliance Against Seclusion and Restraint volunteer Trisha Thompson drafted a letter to help you convince whoever might need convincing.
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The Ripples of Trauma from Restraint and Seclusion
The result of children experiencing being restrained and secluded creates trauma responses in the brain. Any experience that the brain perceives as unsafe despite with whom, when, and where IS traumatic. The stress response in the lower part of the brain is designed for survival and it does not nor cannot delineate between perceived and…
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Trauma, Healing, and Positive Identity Development
We have come to realize that bullying is trauma. And many who are bullied or have been bullied have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. Bullying can come from peers, but it can also come from a number of other sources, such as aids, teachers, and even the parents of peers. There are countless stories of…