Trauma-informed Discipline and Social Justice by Angela Almodovar https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277 By Angela Almodovar & Elizabeth Baumel en-us 2023-10-11 21:14:40 UTC 2023-10-30 11:07:05 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f497.png Why Trauma-Impacted Students Need Positive Supports geladovar668 https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2746250182 ACEs- Adverse Childhood Experiences
3 Categories of ACEs:
  • Abuse-
    • Physical
    • Emotional
    • Sexual
  • Neglect-
    • Physical
    • Emotional
  • Household Dysfunction-
    • Mental illness
    • Violence toward mother
    • Divorce
    • Relative(s) in prison
    • Substance abuse
(EndCAN, 2021)

A person who has experienced 4 or more ACEs is 7x more likely to end up in prison, has a double risk of developing cancer, and is 12x more likely to attempt suicide 
(Paper Tigers, 2015)

The 2015 documentary, Paper Tigers, defines TOXIC STRESS as: 
"a term used to describe traumatic experiences in childhood which threaten healthy brain development, and are associated with lifelong health and social problems. Increasingly, researchers are identifying toxic stress as a key contributor to epidemics of poverty, violence, and disease."

Toxic stress response occurs when a child experiences severe, frequent, and/or prolonged adversity. This activates the stress response systems in the body. With constant prolonged toxic stress, a child's brain development and other organ systems are at increased risk for developmental delays and other health problems down the road- including heart disease, diabetes, substance abuse, and depression. (Center on the Developing Child, 2020)

"Research also indicates that supportive, responsive relationships with caring adults as early in life as possible can prevent or reverse the damaging effects of toxic stress response." (Paper Tigers, 2015)

Trauma-informed care:
  • ensures students' problematic behaviors are treated as a direct result of the many ACEs they have experienced, not as willful or punishable actions
  • takes into account the many hardships these children have endured 
  • ensures that students are not being punished for behaviors that may be out of their control
]]> 2023-10-14 17:22:07 UTC https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2746250182 Trouble Forming Relationships ebaumel73_ https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2746761589
  • First step in a successful school experience. Don’t know how to ask for help. 
    • “Kids who’ve never developed that early template that you can trust people, that you are lovable and that people will take care of you,” Dr. Howard explains, “need support to form that kind of relationship.”
  • These kids do not know how to ask for help, since they have not experienced an adult regularly giving them emotional and physical support.
  • Schools have very little patience for kids who provoke and push away adults who try to help them.
  • Steven from the documentary "Paper Tigers" pushed teachers away even after he was accepted to college.  He self-sabotaged because of his history. 
    • ]]>     2023-10-15 13:53:39 UTC https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2746761589     • Poor Self-Regulation ebaumel73_ https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2746764192
  • Traumatized children have difficulty managing strong emotions.
    • "As babies and toddlers, children learn to calm and soothe themselves by being calmed and soothed by the adults in their lives" -Dr. Howard
  • Due to neglect, these children often have chronic dysregulation-they do not know how to regulate themselves on their own and feel overwhelmed.   
  • Students have PTSD, separation anxiety, social anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and oppositional and aggressive behavior
    • ]]>     2023-10-15 13:56:38 UTC https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2746764192     Negative Thinking ebaumel73_ https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2746767343
  • These traumatized children develop a belief that they are bad and that the bad things that happened to them are their fault.
    • As Dr. Howard puts it, “I’m a bad kid. Why would I do well in school? Bad kids don’t do well in school.” 
  • Dr. Rappaport notes: "children from abusive homes are sometimes unable to participate in classroom activities because they are paralyzed by fear of making a mistake, and that can make them appear to be oppositional." 
  • These children see negative responses when they are intended to be neutral
    • “So if a teacher says, ‘Sit down in your seat,” they hear it as, ‘SIT DOWN IN YOUR SEAT!’” she explains. “They hear it as exaggerated and angry and unfair. So they’ll act out really quickly with irritability.”  Dr. Rappaport puts it: “They see negative where we see neutral.”
  • Eternity from documentary "Paper Tigers" said "my greatest fear is ending up alone with no one to love!"
  • Aron from documentary "Paper Tigers" preferred to go about his business unnoticed since he has a hard time fitting in. 
    • ]]>     2023-10-15 14:00:33 UTC https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2746767343     Hypervigilance and Executive Functioning ebaumel73_ https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2746775960
  • Classic symptom of trauma is becoming overly alert to danger.
    • Dr. Howard. “These kids are jumpy, they have an exaggerated startle response. They can have some big, out-of-control seeming behaviors, because their fight or flight response has gone off.” 
  • Appears to be ADHD, which causes misdiagnosis among children
  • Chronic agitation can lead to difficulty sleeping and being irritable. 
  • Chronic trauma affects children’s memory, their ability to pay attention, plan, think things through.
  • By having difficulty planning, this impacts completing tasks in school and behavior
  • Weakness in ability to self-narrate — to mentally talk themselves through what they need to do as they are carrying out a task. 
    • ]]>     2023-10-15 14:12:43 UTC https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2746775960     Academics ebaumel73_ https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2746828576
    • School avoidance
    • Missing school due to illness
    • Difficulty concentrating- due to intrusive thoughts 
    • Reading comprehension
    • Communication 
    • Lack of motivation
    • 3 times increase of having an IEP

    Trauma also has a negative impact on academic functioning with higher symptoms of traumatic stress predicting poorer reading, math, and science achievement scores among elementary students (Goodman, Miller, & West-Olatunji, 2012). 
    ]]>     2023-10-15 15:19:58 UTC https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2746828576     Trauma Informed Discipline ebaumel73_ https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2746851984
  • Use a MTSS- multi tiered system of support for students
  • Make students feel academically challenged, physically and emotionally safe, valued, and connected to their school settings.
  • Balance accountability with an understanding of traumatic behavior
  • Teach school and classroom rules while reinforcing that violent or abusive behavior is not allowed at school
  • Minimize disruptions to education with an emphasis on positive behavioral supports and behavioral intervention plans
  • Create consistent rules and consequences
  • Model respectful, non-violent relationships
    • In the documentary "Paper Tigers", students like Aron, Eternity, Steven and Dianna succeeded and graduated college, due to the the positive school climate that the teachers created.
    • ]]>     2023-10-15 15:48:31 UTC https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2746851984     References ebaumel73_ https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2746869968 Berardi, A. A., & Morton, B. M. (n.d.). Chapter 9: Responding to Behavioral Disruptions Using Trauma-informed School Practices: Principles and Practices. https://pressbooks.pub/traumainformedschoolpractices/chapter/chapter-9-responding-to-behavioral-disruptions-using-trauma-informed-school-practices-principles-and-practices/

    Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. A Guide to Toxic Stress. (2020, January 6). https://developingchild.harvard.edu/guide/a-guide-to-toxic-stress/

    DC Alliance for Restorative Practices (DCARP). (n.d.). Trauma Informed Practices Discipline Guide. RestorativeDC. https://restorativedc.org/restorativepractices/

    EndCAN. (2021, January 20). Unwrapping the Link Between Childhood Trauma and Health. https://endcan.org/2021/01/20/unwrapping-the-link-between-childhood-trauma-and-health/

    Miller, Caroline. "How Trauma Affects Kids In School" Child Mind Institute.  (2023)

    National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE). (n.d.). Trauma-Sensitive Schools Training Package. https://safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/trauma-sensitive-schools-training-package

    Redford, J. (2015). Paper Tigers. Brainstorm Media.

    Ridgard, Tamique, et al. “Trauma-Informed Care in Schools: A Social Justice Imperative.” National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), www.nasponline.org/publications/periodicals/communique/issues/volume-44-issue-2/trauma-informed-care-in-schools-a-social-justice-imperative. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023.

    “Tennessee State Government - Tn.Gov.” Trauma Informed Discipline Practices , Aug. 2019, www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/education/safety/Trauma_informed_Discipline_Practices_Guidance.docx. ]]>     2023-10-15 16:11:44 UTC https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2746869968     Creating a Positive School Climate geladovar668 https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2747360298
  • Teachers play a critical role in creating a safe, supportive learning environment.
  • Positive relationships between teachers and students can have long-lasting effects on social, emotional, and academic development. 
  • Teachers can improve the overall school climate by building strong relationships with students, which can lead to the prevention of physical violence, bullying, and/or emotional abuse at school.
    • (NCSSLE)

    In a trauma-sensitive school, the educational environment:
    • is based on an understanding of trauma
    • considers the impact of trauma on the developing brain
    • is designed to promote resilience for all

    Defining trauma-informed care-
    The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) identifies 4 aspects of trauma-informed care:

    1. “Realize the widespread impact of trauma and understand potential paths for healing.
    2. Recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in staff, clients, and others involved with the system.
    3. Respond by fully integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, practices, and settings.
    4. Resist re-traumatization"   

    • Students need to feel safe in their classrooms, especially when they may not have a safe or comforting environment at home.
    • Teachers should incorporate social-emotional learning into the curriculum to help students cope, self-regulate, and manage emotions. 
    • Schools should implement practices and policies which ensure that trauma-impacted students will be treated with care instead of being punished. less about punishment and more about finding solutions, creating space for change, and helping families connect with resources in the community. 
    (Berardi & Morton)

    To incorporate knowledge about trauma into practice, school policies and procedures should be adjusted to include the six principles of a trauma-informed approach: 
    1. safety
    2. trustworthiness/transparency
    3. peer support
    4. collaboration/mutuality
    5. empowerment, voice, & choice
    6. cultural, historical, & gender issues

    Effective SEL incorporates the following four elements, represented by the acronym SAFE:

    • SEQUENCED: Connected and coordinated activities to foster skills development
    • ACTIVE: Employing active forms of learning to help students strengthen new skills
    • FOCUSED: Dedicated time and attention to developing personal and social skills
    • EXPLICIT: Targeting specific social and emotional skills
    ]]>     2023-10-16 02:32:30 UTC https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2747360298     Restorative Practices and Activities to Promote Social Emotional Learning geladovar668 https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2749895002
  • Classroom Circle 
    • The circle gives equal opportunity for all to listen, contribute, and practice social emotional skills in a safe, supportive space within their classroom. 
  • Restorative Conversation 
    • Conversation skills focused on expressing feelings and needs. 
    • Uses nonviolent communication and conflict management techniques. 
    • Guided by reflective listening and avoiding blame language. 
  • Mindfulness practice
    • Can improve ability to manage stress & increase resilience
    • Improve emotional regulation & conflict resolution skills
    • Increase focus & creativity
  • Breathing exercises
    • Helps students learn how to self-soothe & "chill out"
    • Practicing in advance helps during times of dysregulation
  • Positive words of affirmation
    • Builds confidence
    • Fosters better peer relationships
    • Contributes to a growth mindset
  • Guided imagery
    • Activates mind-body connection
    • Reduces physical and emotional stress
    • Can decrease anxiety
    • ]]>     2023-10-17 02:17:50 UTC https://padlet.com/geladovar668/45e0njgucq2ss277/wish/2749895002