What strategies can educators use to facilitate safe and meaningful discussions on race, racial (in)justice and racism? This toolkit from Learning for Justice (formerly Teaching Tolerance) offers specific strategies, as well as tips for managing student responses, in order to create a safe environment for difficult conversations. https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/spring-2015/toolkit-for-talking-about-racism-and-police-violence-with-students
This recent article from EdWeek describes efforts by teachers of color to address police violence against citizens of color, as well as the pushback received. The teachers interviewed shared their own experiences, concerns for students of color, and desire to help white students participate in systemic change. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/discussing-the-derek-chauvin-trial-in-class-how-teachers-are-doing-it-and-why/2021/04?
This post from the National Center for Safe Supportive Schools introduces the Center for Childhood Resilience (CCR). CCR is partnering with Alliance for Prevention and Inclusion and the National Center for School Mental Health to establish the National Center for Safe Supportive Schools (NCS3). The NCS3 aims to integrate best practices of school mental health, … Continue reading Addressing the trauma of racism
As schools begin a post-pandemic transition, educators should consider how to strengthen the social, emotional, and behavioral supports for students. Three foundational components are important to keep at the forefront of efforts to support students, regardless of the learning environment…
We celebrated National School Social Worker week from March 7 – March 13, 2021 as part of Social Work Month. This school year provided unique challenges for school social workers (SSWs) as well as opportunities for innovation.
In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we adapted strategies from the “Common trauma symptoms in students and helpful strategies for educators” handout to help educators address student’s social-emotional and mental health needs associated with trauma in virtual settings.
Our Student Behavior Blog team at SRI Education is deeply heartbroken and outraged by the racism, brutality, and hatred that plague Black children, families, and individuals, not only with regard to recent events, but with recognition that these are pervasive issues they face in every moment of their lives. Consistent with our mission statement, we continue to strive to think about how we can conduct research, use data, and develop tools in meaningful ways that will reduce barriers and promote equity for students across our nation who continue to experience these longstanding injustices.
Helping kids stay busy, stimulated, and positive while creating an environment that allows them to feel safe and protected can be challenging. A team of child trauma experts at Child Trends have listed several recommendations for supporting the emotional well-being of children during high stress periods. They highlight “3 R’s” for parents to use as … Continue reading Maintaining wellness in crisis
We were presenting to a group of teachers about our project examining the effects of a group-based intervention for middle schoolers experiencing traumatic stress. I was describing the effects of trauma on students’ academic performance when a teacher stood up and loudly exclaimed, “But what about OUR trauma? Who is helping US?”