Trauma-Sensitive Schools: The Importance of Instilling Grit, Determination, and Resilience

About the Book

Trauma-Sensitive Schools: The Importance of Instilling Grit, Determination, and Resilience is written with the consideration of the important and effective role educators and other staff who work with children every day can have on children of trauma. Daily supportive interactions from caring adults can bring healing, while using strategies in a school setting that can promote learning for children of trauma. The purpose of this book is to both support schools in their creation of trauma sensitive school systems and classrooms and provide practical strategies for educators to implement in the classroom. The strategies provided will support children and young people in their learning, their self-regulation and relationship skills. Skills such as grit, determination and resilience can be taught, and this book will provide all readers with ways to support children of trauma. The importance of understanding how trauma impacts cognitive, behavioral and social growth is emphasized with key terms outlined and discussed. This text is applicable for any pre-service teacher studying to become an educator as well. Self-care strategies for educators are also included to reduce the risk of secondary trauma and to effectively teach all children but especially children of trauma.

Table of Contents:

Preface
Acknowledgement
Introduction
Section I: Background Knowledge for Children of Trauma
Chapter 1: What Does the Adverse Childhood Experiences Study Tell Us About Educating Children of Trauma?
Section II: Help! Impact of Trauma and the Interventions to Success
Chapter 2: A Domestic Violence Primer for Educators
Chapter 3: Impact of Trauma on Children Across Developmental Stages
Chapter 4: Impact of Trauma and the Interventions for Children’s Language and Memory
Chapter 5: Impact of Trauma on Relationships and Self-Regulation
Section III: Toolbox with More Strategies to Support Children of Trauma
Chapter 6: Supporting Reading and Writing Skills for Children of Trauma
Chapter 7: The Healing Power of Children’s Literature
Chapter 8: Creating Trauma Sensitive Schools: The Importance of Mental Health Awareness and Positive School Climate
Chapter 9: Teaching Resilience, Grit and Determination
Chapter 10: Practicing Self-Care for Educators
About the Author

About the Author :
Colleen Lelli, Ed.D. is an Associate Professor in the Educational Specialists Department and the Director of the Center for Children of Trauma and Domestic Violence Education at Cabrini University. Dr. Lelli brings close to 25 years of experience in the education field and has published, researched and presented widely while providing teachers and professionals key strategies to support children of trauma to learn effectively in the classroom.

Review :
Lelli has written a concise text on the importance of understanding students' backgrounds and how trauma can impact daily educational experiences. She evaluates the research, compiles the literature, and presents it to readers in an easily digestible manner. Given current traumatic events that have happened over the past year—a global pandemic, civil and political unrest—this book's release is well timed. The text is organized into three parts. The first introduces readers to important concepts related to childhood trauma. The second part discusses how trauma can affect students and strategies that can assist them. The third part gives readers specific approaches to educating and supporting students, specifically through reading and writing acquisition. Lelli strikes the right balance between educating teachers on how and why trauma can impact students' behavior in the classroom and offering clear-cut strategies and tools to help children succeed by instructing them not only in basic subjects such as reading, writing, and math but also teaching them the skills of resiliency, grit, and a growth mindset. Highly recommended. General readers through faculty; professionals. As an educator for over 20 years I have taught numerous students who have experienced trauma in their lives. The challenges of meeting their academic, social and emotional needs can be incredibly overwhelming. Now, with the expertise of Dr. Collen Lelli, educators not only have the knowledge and tangible, evidence-based strategies to address the needs of children who have experienced trauma, but also the critical skills needed to mitigate the post-secondary trauma often experienced by teachers who work with this vulnerable population. Colleen Lelli is a trauma expert in her region and has put together an exhaustive review of the literature on trauma as it presents across the developmental spectrum. In her book, she recommends easy-to-follow ideas to help any teacher achieve a trauma sensitive, resilience-based classroom. There is something in here for everyone, beginners and more advanced trauma-informed practitioners, alike!