Learning Opportunities

Children with experiences of trauma often present with significant challenges within a classroom setting. Their behaviours are often unpredictable and can shift the learning environment of a classroom. The behavioural representation of their experiences often poses challenges for teachers, administrators, support staff , and peers. In addition to these challenges, the fundamental lack of safety felt by these children significantly impedes their capacity to learn. Schools have an incredibly unique opportunity to provide a child with space in which they feel safe, connected, and supported. By learning new ways to support children and youth who have experienced trauma, inconsistency, and significant challenge in their life, we can maximize the opportunity to give these children a safe place to land. 

ICP’s trauma training focuses on increasing knowledge regarding how trauma impacts brain development and the body, and how these shifts present behaviourally in children. We additionally explore how experiences of trauma impact memory systems and learning, and ways in which we can support children in connecting to the school community and engaging in the classroom milieu. We will also explore strategies to engage with students presenting with challenging behaviours. 

Instructional Objectives: 

• Discuss trauma and its definitions and challenges in defining trauma 
• Examine the impacts of trauma on neurological development 
• Investigate the impact of trauma on information processing and memory systems 
• Explore the impacts of trauma on attachment systems and relational patterns 
• Foster a greater understanding of behavioural patterns commonly associated with traumatic experiences 
• Learn ways to engage and support development of brainstem, limbic system, and cortical regions of the brain 
• Examine the importance of knowing impacts of own story and self-care for those in supporting roles 
• Develop tools and strategies to support students in the classroom 
• Explore the importance of play in development and processing experiences of trauma 
• Explore long-term outcomes of traumatic experience in childhood

Follow-up Webinar (March 2, 2020)

Our live sessions are packed with the latest tools and strategies to help the students in your class thrive! We want to help you to create lasting changes...and one of the ways to do that is to follow up and give you a space to have your questions answered! Once you have had time to apply the strategies in a classroom context, we invite you to email info@instituteofchildpsychology.com with your questions and reflections. The instructor will answer your questions, provide further insight and give additional resources. Knowledge is powerful, let's BE the change for our youth.

Participants will be required to email in questions a week before the webinar.

Target Audience

K-12 teachers

Also Recommended For

Educational assistants