Building Resilience in the Classroom Through Trauma-Sensitive, Mindful Practices
Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
What is trauma?
Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
Could it also be this?
Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
Realize the 3 E’s Trauma is a single event, multiple events, or a set of circumstances that is experienced by an individual as physically and emotionally harmful or threatening and that has lasting adverse effects on the individual’s physical, social, emotional, or spiritual well-being Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
4 R’s of a Traumainformed Approach Realize
Recognize
Respond
Resist Re-traumatization Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
Recognizing Effects Prefrontal Cortex
Hippocampus
Very Fast
Thalamus
Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
Amygdala
Recognizing Effects: Sympathetic Nervous System in the Classroom Fight: Curse words, facial grimacing, throwing objects, loud voice, argumentative
Freeze: Disengaged, unable to learn/ concentrate, quiet
Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
Flight: Leaving a group setting, storming out of classroom, can’t sit still, fidgeting
It’s easy as….
A 1
Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
B 2
C 3
Children A: Ask for help Identifying and labeling emotion • Switches area of the brain • Gives a sense of control
Relational • Healing happens in relationships • Patterns of conversation
Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
Attunement • Purpose: to figure out what is going on with the child. Don’t assume. • How do you do this? o Emotion faces on the desk o Ask the child “It appears you are feeling…… Would you like some help?”
• Keep from judgement. Remember what ever you think caused the behavior, may not be the actual trigger. • Flight, Fight, Freeze-doing part of the brain
Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
Children B: Breathe Gateway to rest and digest (parasympathetic nervous system) • Builds in the “all clear” • Gives control to the child
Easy and portable • Need to educate prior to crisis Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
Body Language • Mirror what you want them to do. • Will you take some deep breaths with me? o Try to do in cycles of “3”
• Be aware of the signals you are sending out o Tensed versus relax and open o Get on their level o Authoritarian versus partner
Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
Children C: Coping Skill Exercises can be alerting, organizing, or calming • core body senses: vestibular, proprioceptive, and tactile systems
Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
Calming tone of voice • When explaining about the coping skills, make sure you are presenting in a way they will be receptive
• Being told what to do versus giving a choice o Do you want to use the Velcro or do you want to move on the calming corner.
• Remind them of a classroom rule: This is a safe classroom. I don’t want you to feel scared, therefore I don’t want you to scare other people. • Set a limit if behavior persists Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
1
2
3
Choose one coping skill
Repetition is key
Three cycles of breath
Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
Coping Skills o Rocking chair o Bear o Magic mat-stretch and breath o 60-80 beats per min
Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
Breathe o o o o
Peace begin with me Box breath Magic spray Pom-pom exercise
Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
Questions
Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy
Remember to have fun!
And take care of yourself Copyright 2017 Project Be Happy