Fostering Resilient Learners: Strategies for Creating a Trauma-Sensitive Classroom

by Kristin Souers, Pete Hall

Overview

In this galvanizing book for all educators, Kristin Souers and Pete Hall explore an urgent and growing issue—childhood trauma—and its profound effect on learning and teaching.

Grounded in research and the authors' experience working with trauma-affected students and their teachers, Fostering Resilient Learners will help you cultivate a trauma-sensitive learning environment for students across all content areas, grade levels, and educational settings. The authors—a mental health therapist and a veteran principal—provide proven, reliable strategies to help you

* Understand what trauma is and how it hinders the learning, motivation, and success of all students in the classroom.
* Build strong relationships and create a safe space to enable students to learn at high levels.
* Adopt a strengths-based approach that leads you to recalibrate how you view destructive student behaviors and to perceive what students need to break negative cycles.
* Head off frustration and burnout with essential self-care techniques that will help you and your students flourish.

Each chapter also includes questions and exercises to encourage reflection and extension of the ideas in this book. As an educator, you face the impact of trauma in the classroom every day. Let this book be your guide to seeking solutions rather than dwelling on problems, to building relationships that allow students to grow, thrive, and—most assuredly—learn at high levels.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781416621072
Publisher:	ASCD
Publication date:	01/26/2016
Pages:	215
Sales rank:	14,052
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Kristin Souers is a licensed mental health counselor in the State of Washington. Kristin has a Master of Arts degree in counseling psychology from Gonzaga University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Santa Clara University. She is an assistant director at Washington State University's Child and Family Research Unit (CAFRU) in the CLEAR Trauma Center. Kristin also serves as an adjunct faculty member for the Masters of Counseling Psychology Program at Gonzaga University. Kristin is an expert in understanding the impact of trauma on individuals and families and has provided consultation and training on this topic to education and human services systems for more than 20 years.

Pete Hall currently serves as a speaker, an author, and a professional development agent for schools and districts across the globe. A former teacher and veteran school principal, Pete is the author of more than a dozen articles on school leadership and five books, including Building Teachers' Capacity for Success (ASCD, 2008), Teach, Reflect, Learn (ASCD, 2015), and The Principal Influence (ASCD, 2015).

Table of Contents

Foreword by Chris Blodgett

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Part I: Trauma

1. Understanding Trauma and the Prevalence of the Not-OK

2. The Manifestation of ACEs in the Classroom

Part II: Self-Awareness

3. Cement Shoes: Staying True to Who You Are

4. Stay Out of Oz: Remaining Grounded Amid Chaos

5. When in Doubt, Shut Your Mouth and Take a Breath

6. It's Not About You

Part III: Relationship

7. No One Said Relationship Is Easy

8. The Power of Relationship

9. Names, Labels, and the Need for Control

10. Doors and Windows: Remembering to Explore All Options

Part IV: Belief

11. Forever Changed, Not Forever Damaged

12. It's OK to Be Not-OK

13. Don't Let Fear Drive the Bus

Part V: Live, Laugh, Love

14. Grace

15. The Cookie Jar: The Art of Giving Praise (and Self-Praise)

16. The Self-Care Challenge

References

Appendix: Additional Resources

Index

About the Authors

Related ASCD Resources

What People are Saying About This

Laurie Curran

As a school counselor for the last 20 years, I am so grateful for this book! Kristin has served trauma-impacted children and families throughout her career and has incredibly effective ways of sharing all that she has learned. I am a stronger counselor and more effective leader in my building due to her influence. I am so excited that through this book, more people will be inspired to learn and grow in the important work of serving kids and families affected by trauma.

Natalie Turner

The effects of chronic stress and adversity on children's learning, development, and behavior have been well documented in the literature over the past two decades. Kristin Souers not only is an expert and innovator in the field but also has a knack for translating the research into effective practice for children and adults alike. Fostering Resilient Learners is an excellent, practical resource for all adults working with and inside education systems, and I highly recommend it to better understand the needs of the whole child and to create the foundation for all students' learning and success.

Shannon Lawson

The information, strategies, and support that this book offers are what we need in our profession to truly leave no children behind. In implementing these strategies, you will shift your focus from reacting to negative student behavior to explaining and preventing negative student behavior. Once you can prevent getting "sucked into Oz," you can achieve all your goals for staff and students.