John Bearoff – Trauma, Grief and Loss in the Classroom: Supporting Students When Tragedy of Loss Occurs

Outline

The Universal Experience of Trauma, Grief & LossThe Universal Experience of Trauma, Grief & Loss

• Stages of grief: normal progression vs. pathological grievingStages of grief: normal progression vs. pathological grieving
• Commonly held misconceptions of about grievingCommonly held misconceptions of about grieving
• Types of losses and events that trigger grief & traumaTypes of losses and events that trigger grief & trauma
• Our personal loss history – how it affects our response to our studentsOur personal loss history – how it affects our response to our students

Manifestation of Trauma and Grief in StudentsManifestation of Trauma and Grief in Students

• Most important ways in which kids reactions differ from adult reactionsMost important ways in which kids reactions differ from adult reactions
• Childhood trauma and grief: normal vs. abnormalChildhood trauma and grief: normal vs. abnormal
• Acute and chronic feelings following loss and traumaAcute and chronic feelings following loss and trauma
• Child/adolescent reactions: concrete, black-and-white, tendency to generalize, repetitive, physical, cyclicalChild/adolescent reactions: concrete, black-and-white, tendency to generalize, repetitive, physical, cyclical
• The effects of trauma and bereavement on school performance and behaviorThe effects of trauma and bereavement on school performance and behavior

Interventions for Loss at Each Developmental StageInterventions for Loss at Each Developmental Stage

• Behavioral changes and warning signs indicating the need for supportBehavioral changes and warning signs indicating the need for support
• Differences between intervention for children and adolescentsDifferences between intervention for children and adolescents
• Case examplesCase examples

One-to-One In-School Interventions for Trauma, Grief, and LossOne-to-One In-School Interventions for Trauma, Grief, and Loss

• The Big Four: death, divorce, illness, and abuse, when and how to interveneThe Big Four: death, divorce, illness, and abuse, when and how to intervene
• Strategies to encourage students to talk about their lossStrategies to encourage students to talk about their loss
• Techniques to validate expression of feelingsTechniques to validate expression of feelings
• Tips to confront and overcome irrational fearsTips to confront and overcome irrational fears
• Individuals’ current and future safety, securityIndividuals’ current and future safety, security

Classroom Wide interventionsClassroom Wide interventions

• Impact of an individuals’ loss on the whole classroom: how to helpImpact of an individuals’ loss on the whole classroom: how to help
• Large-scale tragedies and disasters: how to helpLarge-scale tragedies and disasters: how to help
• Strategies to encourage students to help grieving classmatesStrategies to encourage students to help grieving classmates
• Answering students’ most frequent questionsAnswering students’ most frequent questions
• The impact of a new student on both the student and your classroomThe impact of a new student on both the student and your classroom
• Steps to create student support groupsSteps to create student support groups

Interventions to Support Students Outside of SchoolInterventions to Support Students Outside of School

• Effective strategies to assist parents in helping their childrenEffective strategies to assist parents in helping their children
• In-school resources to offer parentsIn-school resources to offer parents
• Connect parents to outside resources for children and themselvesConnect parents to outside resources for children and themselves

Support for Staff MembersSupport for Staff Members

• Proactive strategies to prepare staff for trauma, grief and lossProactive strategies to prepare staff for trauma, grief and loss
• Interventions and support for teachers following trauma, grief and lossInterventions and support for teachers following trauma, grief and loss

Postvention Plans for your School and DistrictPostvention Plans for your School and District

• Immediate short term interventions for your schoolImmediate short term interventions for your school
• Coordinate short term interventions with your districtCoordinate short term interventions with your district
• Long term, school and district interventionsLong term, school and district interventions
• Case examples of established, successful postvention plansCase examples of established, successful postvention plans