Trauma‑Informed Teaching

Description:

This course equips educators with the tools and understanding to create trauma-informed classrooms that support healing and resilience. Participants will gain insights into the nature of trauma, its various forms, and how it impacts students’ brains, emotions, and behaviors. Through interactive discussions and case studies, teachers will learn to identify signs of trauma and address its effects on academic performance and classroom behavior. The training focuses on building safe and supportive environments, emphasizing trust, consistency, and empathy. Educators will practice trauma-sensitive communication, role-play strategies for managing challenging behaviors, and design classroom routines that minimize triggers. The course also highlights the importance of fostering resilience by promoting emotional regulation, self-soothing techniques, and student empowerment. By integrating mindfulness and coping strategies into daily routines, teachers will help students navigate challenges while supporting their emotional growth and academic success.

Learning outcomes:

• Understand the impact of trauma on the brain, behavior, and learning.
• Recognize signs of trauma in students and differentiate between trauma-related behavior and other behavioral challenges.
• Develop trauma-sensitive classroom practices that promote safety, trust, and emotional regulation.
• Respond to challenging behavior with empathy and effective interventions.
• Build strong, supportive relationships with students impacted by trauma.
• Create a classroom culture that promotes healing, resilience, and emotional wellbeing.

Tentative Schedule:

Day 1: Understanding Trauma and Its Impact on Students

• What is trauma? Types of trauma (e.g., abuse, neglect, loss, community violence).
• The neuroscience of trauma: How traumatic stress affects the developing brain.
• The connection between trauma, emotions, and behavior in the classroom.
• Group discussion: Identifying common signs of trauma in student behavior.
• Case studies: Analyzing how trauma manifests in academic performance and classroom behavior.
• Self-reflection: Exploring how teachers’ own responses to student behavior may be influenced by trauma.

Day 2: Recognizing the Signs of Trauma and Building a Safe Classroom Environment

• Observable signs of trauma in students (e.g., withdrawal, aggression, attention difficulties).
• Understanding trauma triggers and how to reduce re-traumatization in the classroom.
• The importance of creating emotional and physical safety in the classroom.
• Role-playing: Identifying and responding to trauma-related behaviors in students.
• Group work: Designing classroom routines and environments that reduce trauma triggers.
• Trauma-sensitive language: Using non-threatening, supportive communication techniques.

Day 3: Building Relationships and Trust with Trauma-Affected Students

• The role of relationships in trauma recovery: How trust and connection promote healing.
• Strategies for building trust and rapport with students impacted by trauma.
• The importance of consistency, predictability, and boundaries for trauma-affected students.
• Role-playing: Practicing empathy and active listening with trauma-affected students.
• Group brainstorming: Creating a trust-building plan for students who struggle to connect.
• Building relational rituals: Simple daily practices to foster connection and safety.

Day 4: Responding to Challenging Behaviors Through a Trauma-Informed Lens

• The difference between trauma-related behaviors and other behavioral issues.
• Trauma-informed behavior management strategies: Responding to aggression, defiance, and withdrawal with empathy and care.
• De-escalation techniques for emotionally charged situations.
• Group role-play: Responding to common challenging behaviors using trauma-informed approaches.
• Practicing de-escalation techniques to prevent and manage outbursts.
• Group discussion: Case studies on handling crisis situations with trauma-sensitive interventions.

Day 5: Fostering Resilience and Promoting Healing in the Classroom

• How to build resilience in students through positive relationships and coping strategies.
• Promoting emotional regulation and self-soothing techniques for trauma-affected students.
• Encouraging student voice and choice to foster empowerment and control.
• Group brainstorming: Creating daily routines that promote resilience and emotional regulation.
• Mindfulness and grounding exercises to use with students in moments of stress.
• Creating personalized coping toolkits for trauma-affected students.

Day 6: Course closure & cultural activities

• Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
• Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
• Excursion and other external cultural activities.

Pricing, packages and other information

• Price: 480 Euro

Course package content:

• Course fee: 480 euros per participant (5-day course + 1 day cultural visits)
• Quality Daily Program - designed by our innovative trainers;
• Welcome Session - for icebreaking and briefing;
• Daily Coffee Break - to enjoy a morning break between peers & trainer;
• Logistic, Organizational & Administrative Support- from our administration team;
• Full Daily Assistance- support throughout the whole week;
• Certification Ceremony - course validation, networking, and farewell.
• Cultural Visits - on Saturday

Upcoming sessions

• Starting on 17.03.2025. - Ending on 22.03.2025. (Planned in Zagreb, Croatia)
• Starting on 31.03.2025. - Ending on 05.04.2025. (Planned in Zagreb, Croatia)
• Starting on 05.05.2025. - Ending on 10.05.2025. (Planned in Zagreb, Croatia)
• Starting on 17.03.2025. - Ending on 22.03.2025. (Planned in Zagreb, Croatia)

Reserve your spot

If you would like to reserve your spot in this course, please contact us at the following email: projekti@obrtnicko-uciliste.hr and provide the following information:

1. Course title you are applying for
2. Full name
3. Name of your organization/school
4. Country
5. Email address for contact
6. Phone number for contact
7. Whether you have secured funding through Erasmus+
8. Number of participants from your organization applying for the course