Assignment Task 1:
Students experience adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) or traumatic events across the country every day, in their homes, schools, and through media. Trauma can come in many forms including school shootings, lockdowns, abuse, death, evacuation, bullying, divorce, family separation, etc. An important aspect of classroom management is to know how to prepare for trauma and deal with the effects it has on student learning and behaviors. Teachers must create a safe, inclusive, and equitable classroom that is proactive in supporting and providing resources when trauma is disclosed.
Part: GoReact TedTalk
For this assignment, research an ACE and reflect on how that experience or event could affect student learning. With the specific experience or event in mind and the lens of advocacy, consider what must be done to create a safe classroom space for students. Record a 4-6 minute TedTalk style video in GoReact (you must have your camera on during the entire video) to advocate for creating trauma-informed classrooms that support students. In your video include the following:
1. Explain the importance of creating an inclusive and equitable classroom environment that considers ACEs and trauma.
2. Discuss how the experience or event can affect student learning, motivation, and behaviors.
3. Provide 2-3 suggestions for creating a safe classroom environment that supports the specific type of trauma.
4. Explain at least two ways teachers can partner with families to support students experiencing trauma.
5. Explain the importance of educators having already built a safe, positive, and inclusive classroom for students who have experienced trauma.
6. Explain the importance of advocating for change, including trauma-informed training and resources to support students who have gone through trauma.
Required:
- Explore the "Advocacy" page of the National Council of Teachers of English website.
- Watch "How to Teach Kids to Talk about Taboo Topics," by Klienrock, located on the TED website (2019).
- Watch "How Teachers Can Help Students Navigate Trauma" by Godwin, located on the TED website (2020).
- Explore "Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)," located on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- Read "Supporting Students with Adverse Childhood Experiences: How Educators and Schools can Help," by Murphey and Sacks
- Explore the "Trauma-Informed Schools" resources, located on the National Education Association website
- Read "ACEs and Resilience: What Can We Do?" located on the Public Schools First NC website (2020).
- Read "SEL Essentials: We Need to be Different: Supporting Students who are Dealing with Trauma," by Brunn and Rauch
- Read "Supporting Students Affected by Trauma," by Desautels, located on the Edutopia website (2020).
- Read "Creating Cultures of Care: Supporting the Whole Child through Trauma-Informed Practice," by Margolius et al.
- Watch "Help for Kids the Education System Ignores," by Rios, located on the TED website (2015).
- Watch "Teach Girls Bravery, Not Perfection," by Saujani, located on the TED website (2016).
Assignment Task 2:
After completing your selected activities from the "Practicum/Field Experience Block Visual & Activities" for your current block, write a reflection about your teaching experiences within Block 1 to include a connection to the teaching preparation standards. In 250-500 words, discuss how educators identify learning needs and apply learning theories to the classroom environment. How does an understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities contribute to an inclusive learning environment? Use evidence from your field experiences to support your answers.
APA Style is not required, but solid academic writing is expected.