ABSTRACT
Young people of all races and ethnicities experience trauma and its negative impact on their ability to learn. Children of color may encounter trauma more frequently than their white peers. The ramifications of trauma can affect schools, as children exhibit low frustration levels, exaggerated responses to change, inability to follow instructions, and poor critical thinking skills. A child who experiences trauma may be hypervigilant. The stress system, AKA the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis), sends messages throughout the body to prepare for survival. At high levels, the stress hormone cortisol inhibits memory. Understanding the cause of these behaviors can help a teacher implement interventions to help students feel safe. Innovative models such as Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI), Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT®), and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) have been used to support schools. Through trauma-informed training, educators are provided with strategies such as nurture groups, sensory activities, and predicable schedules to meet the needs of the children. Teachers with training will have the skills and knowledge to provide students from violent backgrounds with appropriate interactions, manipulatives, and classroom spaces. Over time, traumatized students often can learn to regulate their own reactions and feelings.
