Week 6: Providing an Outlet to Overcome Trauma
"Although the trauma they interrogate may be their own, students may be able to find refuge in safe spaces that benefit them while developing a keen awareness of the need and strength to support others" (Taylor, pg 465).
As teachers, we have to be mindful that we may have students who have faced or are facing traumatic situations. Choosing text that relates to situations they have been through or may be going through, allows them to open up for conversation and overcome traumas they are struggling with. For teachers who strictly stay focused in textbooks and curricula, we are telling our students their trauma and experiences aren't allowed inside the classroom. Teachers have to understand our students' have lives outside of the classroom, and the best way to teach them, is to allow them to bring their outside lives into the classroom. Having conversations and allowing our students to be open and share their experiences will empower them to take a stand and want to make changes for themselves and for the world. However, "such conversations will not spontaneously occur without the inclusion of texts that students find meaningful" (Taylor, 465).
To make our students feel as if they can be open and safe we can:
-Show students we care, and are advocates for their equity.
-Choose texts that relate to our students personal experiences, and give them opportunities to share and converse without judgement
-Teach students about experiences they haven't personally had, and how they can be supportive of their classmates
While students facing trauma may only make up a percentage of our classrooms, these kind of texts and literature are beneficial to all students. Those students who haven't faced the same experiences can grasp a better knowledge and understanding of their peers who have through reading about similar experiences. They could also have trauma in a different way or experience, but learn that they aren't alone by seeing the experiences and traumas their classmates have. The quote I put at the beginning I found very impactful and truthful, so I'd like to share it one more time, "although the trauma they interrogate may be their own, students may be able to find refuge in safe spaces that benefit them while developing a keen awareness of the need and strength to support others" (Taylor, pg 465). This statement shows how students can benefit from your choice of text regardless of if they share the same experiences or not. Supporting others in a classroom setting is the only way to ensure a safe environment for learning.
In the article, the boy named Jarrell was given the story of John Henry and asked to extend the story. In his story extension he writes about John Henry searching for his lost father. In an interview afterward, Dr. Taylor asks the boy why he was searching for a lost father and the boy responds, "having a father is important for black kids... He is strong to stand up for people like me and the character" (Taylor, pg 463). This story was something Jarrell and many of his peers had a connection to, and it allowed Jarrell to begin healing and imagine how he could take action against his problem.
Creating a safe space in the classroom is ideal for students to feel like they are cared about and allowed to share their experiences. Teachers may not always be able to connect with their students by having the same experiences, but we can show them they are safe in our classroom and that we care about their well-being, who they are, and what they're going through.
A quote from this video that really hit me is when she says, "12 systems and 55 plus people crossed Henry and his families' life, and yet no one thought it was their job to connect with them about that hard story." As teachers, we have to acknowledge that is part of our jobs, so we need to create a safe environment for the students to open up and have that conversation with us.
Questions to Consider:
1. How can we learn about our students traumas and experiences without them feeling like we are prying into their lives?
2. How can we choose text that we think will be beneficial to our students experiences?
3. How could we create a mutual understanding throughout our classroom that it is a safe place to share and be open without judgement, and that bullying and hatred won't be tolerated?
4. Do you think it is possible for teachers who haven't experienced trauma to relate and connect with students who have? If so, how?
5. For our students who haven't experienced trauma, how can we help them understand the experiences of our students who have, and help them understand how to be supportive of those students?
6. Do you think trauma is a topic that is too advanced to discuss with elementary age students? Why or why not?
For your question 6, " Do you think trauma is a topic that is too advanced to discuss with elementary age students? Why or why not?" I believe trauma should be discussed in elementary schools. Just because these students are young, does not mean that they have not experienced trauma, or heard about it. We have to be mindful that students have more access to the internet now and they can hear about what is happening in the world. Also, with how many school shootings that have happened, and students do need to be talked to about these matters.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you! I think trauma is definitely something that needs to be discussed regardless of the age group because chances are, one or multiple of your students have been through or are going through traumatic situations. I feel that depending on the grade level, there should be different ways we approach the specific topics, but it is still important to have those conversations and allow our students to speak up and be open about their experiences. I think it would be a good idea to inform parents about the specific topics you are going to be discussing, that way no one gets their toes stepped on or upset because they weren't prepared for what their children are discussing at school.
DeleteI think the best way for teachers to cover themselves is to send that letter home. A great way to talks about trauma might be brining in some books that discuss it. I remember when I was in the CRC, I saw this book that discussed what happens when people die, but it brought it up in a way that students could learn from it, and not be too hard of a topic. I think using these books, would help students be able to cope more, and become more comfortable in the classroom.
DeleteHayley, I agree with you one hundred percent. I think that parents try not to talk to their kids about trauma at the elementary school age because they think they are to little, and do not understand. At that age students think and understand more than most parents realize that they do. I have met some elementary students that have blown my mind with the things they can tell me. I do not think children should be shielded from trauma and schools should be there to talk to students if they are going through trauma in their lives.
DeleteYour statement about parents not talking to their children about trauma because they think they're too young was really interesting to me. I also think part of the reason they don't talk to them about it is because they don't realize they're kids are facing trauma at such a young age, or could even be a factor in what is causing trauma to their children. Do you think a students' trauma is something that should stay confidential between the teacher and student, or do you think there should be a conversation had between the teacher and parent?
DeleteI believe that everyone has gone through some sort of trauma, even if you are young. Some traumas might not be as big as others but in their own way they have impacted the child just as much and made them realize something that they hadn't before. So I agree with you that we need to be able to create a safe space in the classroom to be able to address that and try and figure out how we can make it safer for the students. I think it is a good idea to have a whole classroom discussion on more of the 'harder' topics because if some students haven't gone through that kind of trauma; in the future when a peer or family member talks to them about their trauma they will know how to react and how to help them if they need it. We need to inform our students that they are not the only ones going through something, they are not alone. And for the students that have gone thought that specific trauma we can inform them on what to do and how to help the person who is going through that.
ReplyDeleteI really like how you said, "we need to inform our students that they are not the only ones going through something." I think this is important because I think the students will be more willing to open up and discuss what they're experiencing if they realize they aren't alone and that they aren't being judged. For those students who have been through trauma that may not be as intense as others, how do you think we could still address their traumas in order to ensure we aren't making them feel as if their trauma is less important?
DeleteI agree with your opinion greatly Ariana especially the statement you made on informing the class about certain students who are going through some type of trauma. I think its crucial to teach students empathy and compassion towards others who are having a troubling time or in a problematic situation. Once we inform students about real-world situations amongst their community it will make them realize the problems that exist and hopefully will let them choose to do something about it. Back in elementary school I remember my fourth grade teacher always started class with a real-world problem . We would then discuss who and how it impacts us as young learners. Once somebody had a chance to speak up I felt really bad for them and wanted to talk to them afterwards. Also I think it would be a good idea for students to probably have a peer buddy each week so they can get to know everyone and who they are.
DeleteI really like the idea of starting class by discussing problems that the world is facing. I think you could even break that down into community and school problems as well. I think having the children understand their peers' struggles will help decrease bullying in the classroom and increase empathy and support.
DeleteTo answer "Do you think trauma is a topic that is too advanced to discuss with elementary age students? Why or why not?" I would say no. According to Rewriting John Henry: Using Texts to Interrogate Personal Trauma, Kara Taylor stated "Teachers and students bear scars from suffering in various forms" which I believe means students may not know it but in some way or form a trauma is presented in their life. I think with discussing what a trauma is or could be can help students identify what possibly could be a trauma in their lives. Rather it's today or tomorrow, sooner or later a trauma will present itself and it's our jobs as teachers to inform our students what traumas may lead to or cause within their lives. We have to prepare them if they aren't exposed to traumas yet, just as we have to teach them how to maintain life after a trauma. A simple discussion can help them cope in a way they couldn't cope before. Opening up the topic can be beneficial for not only the students, but the teacher as well.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think about the aspects of the discussion of trauma being beneficial to the teacher, but I agree with you on that. I think it allows the teacher to face traumas they maybe have had that they've tried to ignore. I also think its beneficial to the teacher because it helps the teacher learn more about their students and have a better understanding of what they are going through outside of school. I think it is also beneficial to the students who haven't been through the specific trauma topic you discuss because it helps them learn to be more understanding of their peers, and can hopefully decrease bullying in the classroom.
DeleteI agree with your statement Desiree when you said "We have to prepare them if they aren't exposed to traumas yet". For a lot of students they might feel like they cant understand the traumas another student is facing because they cant see it sometimes. It might not be a physical scar but the reactions from those traumas and emotions are always present. I think as a educators as well that we have to understand that even though we might have not gone through the same trials that we are hurt too. I think talking about these problems out loud in the classroom are important because it brings awareness and provides a opportunity for students to change in what they see and hear around their community.
Delete"How can we learn about our students traumas and experiences without them feeling like we are prying into their lives?" I feel like we just have to make our students feel as comfortable as possible and like you stated that includes allowing students to bring their lives into the classroom. Including the texts that talk about the topic can allow a student not to feel like the odd one out but instead allow them to open up. Personally, I went through a lot in my home life growing up, especially in elementary school, and I thought all my friends had great lives and I had a dysfunctional life because my teachers never wanted to know me on a deeper level. This also allows you to know when the student is turned off in class and why which can be helpful to their learning.
ReplyDelete- Deja Shelton
DeleteI think the experience you faced in school is a huge issue we have with our education system now. Teachers aren't allowing students to bring their outside lives into school and its negatively impacting them and their education. Students facing trauma shouldn't have to feel like they are alone because they're not. Chances are, if one person in the classroom has some sort of trauma, another person does too. Opening up the classroom and allowing them to feel comfortable talking about it will help them realize they aren't alone and feel supported by their peers.
DeleteI liked that you mentioned that students are faced with different traumas and they need to be talked about within a classroom. Kids go through so much, people don't ever really realize it. Kids get bullied and sometimes their parents are mean to them at home or they don't care for them. When looking at this, you think about how much goes untalked about. Like we said in Cunninghams class, if it isn't talked about at home or in class, where else is it going to to be talked about? As educators, we can't let these things go untalked about, they may be tricky subjects, but they are happening in classroom (elementary level) every single day. We need to be able to show our students that they are safe and that they are cared about and how they feel matters. It might be a bit tricky talking about these different traumas in class because we don't want to single a students out but we still need to talk about it. We will have to take the time to educate ourselves on these different situations that our students are faced with.
ReplyDeleteThe ted talk video I attached talks about how if people keep ignoring the traumas and thinking it "not their job" then the children are going to suffer. Someone has to step up and acknowledge that it is their job, and I think as teachers that person needs to be us. Sometimes children are afraid to disclose issues they'er having with their parents in fear of getting into trouble or being lectured, and I think a lot of children look to their teachers for who they can open up to.
DeleteTo answer question five, For our students who haven't experienced trauma, how can we help them understand the experiences of our students who have, and help them understand how to be supportive of those students?“As teachers, we have to be mindful that we may have students who have faced or are facing traumatic situations. Choosing a text that relates to situations they have been through or maybe going through, allows them to open up for conversation and overcome traumas they are struggling with.”(Taylor, 465). I believe this quote wraps up my answer to your question. We can allow the student to open up if they are comfortable talking to their classmates. Buying books that they can relate too might help those students to open up and they might read the book and say they experience that before or for some students it can be an eye-opener for them also a way for students to learn.
ReplyDeleteI think as teachers we can learn about our students traumas and experiences without them feeling like we are prying into their lives by just making conversation with them everyday and then letting them open up to us. Once we have that initial trust and friendship children are more likely to open up and they start telling things about themselves. To make the initial trust and friendship with the students we have to make an effort to talk to them everyday. It can be as simple as a hello, how are you doing, I like your hairstyle, you did a great job during math, etc. Another way we can learn about their traumas and experiences is to talk about sensitive topics or personal traumas or experiences we have gone through. To answer your third question, I think we can create a mutual understanding throughout our classroom that it is a safe place to share and be open without judgement, and that bullying and hatred won't be tolerated by disciplining the children who are bullying right away. If we don't do this right away then the children will think it is okay to continue the bad behavior and get away with it with no consequences. Another way would be to having discussions about why it is never okay to judge or bully anyone. I think it also helps when the teachers are vulnerable with their students because it shows them that it is okay to open up and it helps them feel more comfortable.
ReplyDeleteI really think your idea of how to get our students to trust and open up to us is great. I think trust and confidence in teachers takes time, and allowing our students to slowly gain that trust will be a great way to build the relationship to a point where they can share their experiences with trauma. I also think cutting bullying and picking on other classmates out of the class from the very start of the school year may be one of the only ways to ensure a positive and friendly classroom environment. If you don't create that safe space and enforce rules against bullying from day one, then it may be harder to do later in the school year.
DeleteTo answer question number 4 I do think teachers that have not experienced trauma can not really relate but I think they can make a connection with them from understanding what they have gone through. With that connection it can make a better understanding of that student for the teacher. For students who have not experienced trauma I think it is best to educate them about it like talking about it or showing scenes or clips from certain movies so they can get an idea.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question "1. How can we learn about our students traumas and experiences without them feeling like we are prying into their lives?", I believe creating a safe space has a lot to do with what a student will or won't share with you. I also believe sharing your own experiences may encourage a student to tell theirs. When i worked at a summer camp this summer I was the teacher for grades 5 and under. I told them that the classroom would be a zero tolerance zone and then I told them a story about someone I know that's been bullied before and why bullying is not okay. Hopefully this made someone who has got bullied or is being bullied feel as though they can talk to me because I'm familiar with the experience.
ReplyDeleteTo address your first question, I believe I can get my students to open up to me without prying by having daily share circles and the more we have them the more I think they will open up to me and each other. I think it will also build a sense of community and family, where my students feel that they are in a safe environment. To answer your last question, I don't believe that talking about trauma in elementary classrooms are too advanced or early because students that age and younger experience trauma just like people older than them. So, to talk about it and let them know that they're not alone and that they have an advocate I believe will be beneficial for them. It will also help students who have't experienced trauma become empathetic towards their classmates and others like them.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe trauma is a topic is too advanced for elementary age students for many reasons. At a young age some students go through a lot in their homes and they can't do much but to deal with it. They feel as if at that age they have to handle it themselves. I do believe certain things may be too much to handle but at some point or another many children go through different types of trauma experiences. It is our job as teachers to help those students as much as we can and provide a safe environment for them. Simply just talking to the student and giving them the feeling that you are trustworthy may help them to confide in you easier.
ReplyDeleteI want to answer your first question, How can we learn about our students traumas and experiences without them feeling like we are prying into their lives? One of my teachers did this, they gave us all notebooks and told us to write anything we wanted down in the notebooks, and at the end of day she would collect them and read it. She didn't care what we wrote about but she just wanted to hear something from us. Another thing would be having an anonymous box where people can write their feelings or struggles and then we can learn about whats happening. I would also like to answer your second question, How can we choose text that we think will be beneficial to our students experiences? A good way is to maybe have them do a survey at the first day of class so you have a general idea or take a poll in books they want to read or learn about. From there, we can keep progressing when the classes keeps talking and relating to the book, so then you can pick what will go with the classroom you're in.
ReplyDeleteRegarding your question six, "Do you think trauma is a topic that is too advanced to discuss with elementary age students? Why or why not?" I do not think that this topic is "too advanced" for elementary age students. Elementary age students could be facing trauma everyday and it is important to have a discussion about that. Personally, elementary and middle school was the age that I suffered from trauma and bullying the most. Now that I have the opportunity to switch positions, I want to be an advocate and a safe space for my students. It is so important to have conversations and make sure that your students know that they have a support system at school.
ReplyDeleteTo answer question number six, "Do you think trauma is a topic that is too advanced to discuss with elementary age students? Why or why not?" I think it depends on how you approach the topic. I would try to filter the topic as much as possible. I would include children's books that focus on the topics of trauma. Many children go through all kinds of traumatic issues in their life whether it's something as typical as their parents fighting or getting a divorce. Maybe a close relative passed away, either way it can be addressed in a manner that can be gentle and possibly let students know that they aren't alone.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about putting books in the classroom that could show what traumas are and that there are other people that go through it. I do believe that we shouldn't filter the topic or make it as if it isn't a big deal. This might make a student feel like it isn't something to worry about and might end up sticking with them for a while. I do believe that we should talk to the class about trauma in a broad way and if we see or hear about it happening to a single individual then we need to talk one on one with that student and maybe get them the help that is needed for them.
DeleteI think this blog is so important to think and consider when walking into a classroom. Children experience many things growing up, traumatic events that impact their young minds. Although other children experience harder things but they have all impacted the child in some way. Parents and their environment have a huge impact on a child. Imagine going to a classroom where you feel like you are not understood. Mornings at school feel lengthy due to what you experienced at home the night before. The Ted Talk video you shared left me thinking and saddened me. To think a small child can go through all of that & we know the system is not the best... its a lonely feeling. We want to help a child out but we dont allow the opportunity to connect with them. I agree that it is important to talk about these hard topics in the classroom. To answer your last question, no I dont think it is a topic that is too advanced to discuss with elementary aged students. It is a reality some of the students face or will face in the future. It is important to bring awareness to the topic and let them know that they are not alone.
ReplyDeleteto answer your question "Do you think trauma is a topic that is too advanced to discuss with elementary age students? Why or why not?". I do not think that it is too advanced to talk about. I believe that trauma can happen at any age in your life and any grade, therefore should be talked about or dealt with when it does happen. We can not brush it under the rug because of their age when it could be happening right in our classrooms. When I was in 5th grade I had a very traumatic experience and it was handled and I got the help that i needed.
ReplyDeleteWhen talking about a students trauma and bringing it into the classroom, I feel as though that word makes people think they’ve been through life and death situations. Trauma can be as far as a student worrying about when their next meal is going to be or if their parents are going to be at home because they never know if they might get deported that day. So it is very important for us teachers to consider that these things might happen to their students. To answer your question one, a way we can learn about our students traumas (if any) is to create a thought box is what I would call it. Every morning or whenever the students had my class, I will have a thought box (cardboard box with a lid) in my room. Students would write down on a piece of paper how or what they are feeling that day or just any thought they would have. I would make sure to tell them that I would not share them with anyone, it was just a way to let out their emotions they’re holding in..
ReplyDelete1. How can we learn about our students traumas and experiences without them feeling like we are prying into their lives?
ReplyDeleteI think the best way is to get them to feel safe in your presence. Asking them directly IS prying, there's no way around that. But if a student feels safe to tell you something and offers it up without you asking, you have succeeded in creating a safe environment. I have a few questions that I like to ask my students at work. The first one is "How was your day?". By asking this, you show that you are interested not just in the scary and big things that happen, but also in the small things, like tests, friendships, etc. The second one is "How was your weekend?". I only ask this on Mondays, but it's a good way to gauge home life. If they say it was bad, you can ask why if you think they're comfortable. If they say it was horrible, sometimes I'll ask them to write me a story about it. A lot of my students like to do that. I also ask them sometimes to write me stories about good weekends too. Sometimes it's hard for them to verbalize, and writing is better. But I always make sure to give the paper back to them to let them know that I won't tell anyone else unless they want me to. Sometimes if it was really bad, I have them rip it up to show that it was in the past and we're going to move forward, but I only do that if they feel like it's something that won't show up again in the future.
I would like to answer question six "Do you think trauma is a topic that is too advanced to discuss with elementary age students?" I believe that talking about trauma in classrooms will help students engage and connect to their peers. When my family experienced 11 deaths between August 2016 through February 2017 some due to health issues, unexpected deaths, and gun violence, I believe if my daughters teacher would have discussed this topic in class it would have helped her cope better when she was at school. Instead she felt excluded and singled out because she had to leave the room whenever she wanted to talk about her grief. Trauma, unfortunately, is apart of life and should be addressed in schools. Schools are the one other place, besides home, where children spend majority of their time. So why wouldn't schools become a safe place for children to confide in when they are grappling with a perplexing circumstance.
ReplyDeleteWe can learn about our students experiences by giving them a space where they can talk about them if they want to but make it clear that you will never make them talk about them. We can choose text that we think will benefit our students by using what we know about our students to find a text. For instance, it your class is mainly Hispanic then you could pick a text where the main character is Hispanic as well. I do not think trauma is too advanced for elementary students to talk about because there are students experiencing it every day and they need to be comfortable talking about it.
ReplyDelete