Do people ask you to explain what a trauma-sensitive or trauma-informed classroom looks like? This interview is a few years old, but gives very pertinent and direct answers to this question. Julie (Simmons) Henderson and Ilene Pawlek are veteran elementary public school educators who offer up their wisdom in this ATN Journal article.
What’s a Trauma-Sensitive Classroom?
A trauma-sensitive classroom is where the teacher understands trauma’s impact on brain development and how that manifests itself in the child’s behavior. And we work hard to meet children where they are.
Good trauma-informed education focuses on helping to teach and support self-regulation and to build relationships with the children.
What do you actually DO in your classroom to make it trauma-sensitive?
I put a tepee in my room this year as a place for children to calm down.
We have a sensory station in my classroom.
I use a lot of movement in my classroom.
We implement things that everyone in the class can do.
