Dr. Jennifer L. Bashant – Trauma Informed Compassionate Classrooms: Strategies to Reduce Challenging Behavior, Improve Learning Outcomes and Increase Student Engagement

Outline

Trauma in Students: What to Look ForTrauma in Students: What to Look For

• Fight, flight or freeze responses: How it manifests in schoolFight, flight or freeze responses: How it manifests in school
• Wired for fear: Impact on the whole childWired for fear: Impact on the whole child
• ACEs – Adverse Childhood Experiences study and surveyACEs – Adverse Childhood Experiences study and survey
• The role of poverty and mental health challengesThe role of poverty and mental health challenges

Trauma TherapyTrauma Therapy

• BenefitsBenefits
• Limitations of the ResearchLimitations of the Research
• Potential RisksPotential Risks

Discipline in a Trauma-Informed ClassroomDiscipline in a Trauma-Informed Classroom

• Changing your mindset: Punitive vs. collaborativeChanging your mindset: Punitive vs. collaborative
• Strategies to foster intrinsic motivationStrategies to foster intrinsic motivation
• 3 steps to implement a collaborative approach3 steps to implement a collaborative approach
• Case studyCase study: How you respond: How you respond

Neuroplasticity: Activities to Establish & Strengthen Neural PathwaysNeuroplasticity: Activities to Establish & Strengthen Neural Pathways

• Strategies to develop new ways of responding Strategies to develop new ways of responding
  • Slow down, stop and thinkSlow down, stop and think
  • Respond rather than reactRespond rather than react
  • Social storiesSocial stories
• Techniques to incorporate the 4 R’s: Techniques to incorporate the 4 R’s:
  • RhythmicRhythmic
  • RepetitiveRepetitive
  • RelationalRelational
  • RewardingRewarding

Relationships as a Protective FactorRelationships as a Protective Factor

• Techniques to form positive relationships and increase students’ likeliness to: Techniques to form positive relationships and increase students’ likeliness to:
  • Stay in school longerStay in school longer
  • Work harderWork harder
  • Increase test scores & gradesIncrease test scores & grades
  • Increase their self-confidenceIncrease their self-confidence
• Techniques to help students feel connected to school making them less likely to: Techniques to help students feel connected to school making them less likely to:
  • Smoke or drinkSmoke or drink
  • Have sexual intercourseHave sexual intercourse
  • Develop emotional problemsDevelop emotional problems
  • Experience suicidal thoughts or attemptsExperience suicidal thoughts or attempts
  • Carry weaponsCarry weapons
  • Be involved in violence or dangerous activitiesBe involved in violence or dangerous activities
• Case studyCase study: Strengths-based, solution-focused approach: Strengths-based, solution-phd/">focused approach

Mindfulness and Self-Awareness Activities To:Mindfulness and Self-Awareness Activities To:

• Help with transitionsHelp with transitions
• Reduce impulsive behaviorsReduce impulsive behaviors
• Strengthen empathy, kindness and compassionStrengthen empathy, kindness and compassion
• Calm and focus attentionCalm and focus attention

Social and Emotional Learning Techniques to Increase:Social and Emotional Learning Techniques to Increase:

• Focus and concentrationFocus and concentration
• Impulse controlImpulse control
• Conflict resolution skillsConflict resolution skills

Mindful Communication Tools to Improve Student EngagementMindful Communication Tools to Improve Student Engagement

• Lead with presenceLead with presence
• AttentionAttention
• IntentionIntention

Mindful Strategies to Increase Connection, Empathy & CommunityMindful Strategies to Increase Connection, Empathy & Community

• GratitudeGratitude
• HeartfulnessHeartfulness

Zones of Regulation to Teach Self-Awareness & Emotional ControlZones of Regulation to Teach Self-Awareness & Emotional Control

• Red zoneRed zone
• Yellow zoneYellow zone
• Green zoneGreen zone
• Blue zoneBlue zone