Friday Feedback - ACES
Trauma Informed Schools - Mitigating Toxic Stress
Resilience: “ …defined by most as the ability to recover from setbacks, adapt well to change, and keep going in the face of adversity.”
Two years ago this Spring I heard an AEA Chief Administrator present in Des Moines on this exact topic and I appreciated his insights into the topic which are below.
Here are some highlights from his session on becoming even more trauma (can be chronic stress) informed in our school with trauma informed classrooms -
Trauma Informed/Responsive strategies...
- Saying I/We care about you
- Capturing kids hearts daily - Valuing and strengthening relationships...daily
- Cast a hopeful vision - give every child hope; positive messages, positive outlook on life
- Take part in their interests - listen carefully
- Using the phrase "I’m here when you’re ready and when you need me"
- Re-directing their mind-frame - meditation, calming approaches, caring, breathing exercises
- Resiliency; sharing our stories of setbacks and how we responded
- Give them resources and options/choice for their learning
- Noticing something unique about them that’s not tied to their academics
- Don't blaming children for factors that are likely out of control = their behaviors are often a symptom of something deeper going on; behaviors are a communication of pain in many cases
“When you look at adverse childhood experiences (ACES), they’re actually a stronger predictor of risk of ischemic heart disease than any of the traditional risk factors when you think of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking.” - Dr. Nadine Burke Harris
Resilience does not mean that children ‘get over it.’ It does mean that the caring adults in their lives have a lot of power to buffer, rather than cement, the effects of toxic stress.” -Amanda J Moreno, Ph.D. Erickson Institute
What's Coming Up?
Monday 4/18 - No School
Thursday 4/21 - Boy/Girl Home Track Meet
Down the Road...
Friday 4/29 - 5th Grade Field Trip to Nauvoo; Bus Evac Drills in AM
Research is clear...it only takes one caring adult to make a difference in the life of a child. Will you be the one?
Educator Self Care Must Come First!
➢ Get your “oxygen” first; take care of yourself and your health
➢ Make your well-being a priority
➢ Buffer effects of secondary traumatic stress/vicarious trauma
➢ Fill Your Bucket!
- Jeff Herzberg