Tagged With "Tools for Special Ed Students"
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Re: schools/classrooms using trauma-informed practices?
Krys, I am researching childhood trauma and educator/District implications as part of Continuing Ed / PGP in SDP. I will be presenting (and hopefully motivating) to other staff at my K-8 school. I am working on a Power Point that I would love for you to review if you have time. I'd also love to see any presentation materials you have already put together ? Daun Kauffman daunkauffman@gmail.com
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Re: schools/classrooms using trauma-informed practices?
Greetings - I am grateful to Jane for sharing this information. I will share a little bit here about what my original intent was in creating the course (Creating Compassionate Schools), how it was designed, and "what's next" or pending in terms of professional development. First, as we all know, we are all taking a "it takes a village" approach. This applies to all professional fields, not only to traditionally defined K-12 education. That said, it was about 5 years ago that I learned about...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
I'm very interested hearing from people that work in schools that are taking a trauma-informed approach. A large part of the job I recently left as a Behavior Strategist in a private special education school/ residential treatment facility was to work with staff on a trauma-informed (responsive) approach with the kids we served. I really developed a passion for it and would love to continue working within that focus. When recently moving to Texas I was hoping to find something within an...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Hi Lee, Thanks for replying. I work in a school that has implemented trauma-informed practices. But it has been a real struggle. Trauma-informed practices when delivered to one student at a time, via the school counselors, dean of students, social workers, etc., seem to be working for us fairly well. However, at the school wide level, we have not been as successful. We aren't giving up - ever - but I am hoping to hear some ideas how other schools are doing this. The biggest challenge, based...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Lee ~ You hit on a key point. No one should be surprised that we don't "punish" the students. We use a restorative justice model to teach students how their actions/behaviors impact the community as a whole. It's time intensive, but it has helped prevent suspensions and expulsions, which has helped create stability in the lives of our students. While I'd like to believe that everyone was on board with the restorative justice model, I know that for some of the staff who had been in the school...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Hi Krys, I like that you are also working with the children about the "brain on stress." This is a component that we are adding this year. So far, we have been making all of these changes and the staff have been in the loop as to why we have made the changes, but for the most part, we have not talked to the students about "why" we are doing these things. They have not complained, they seem to be appreciating having more choices and more say in their education. But now that most of the...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Hi Dominic, I am happy to share our intake survey. I am attaching two documents. The word document is the one that we have all students fill out. We also have the Risk Assessment Survey questions as a separate document (PDF) in case a student does not feel comfortable answering the questions with their name on document. We have recently converted this document to a "google form" so that students can fill it out electronically. All of our students are assigned a chromebook during orientation.
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
I will jump in here. I am a special ed director for a school district, but I am also a parent of two children who have trauma backgrounds (we adopted about three years ago). I feel like the old Hair Club for Men commercial where the guy at the end says, "I am not only the president, but I am also a client." I have had the opportunity to do a presentation at the state CEC conference, and will be doing another this summer at the state conference for sp. ed. directors. Some other avenues have...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
This is a fascinating discussion! Here are some stories I did about trauma-informed schools in Spokane and San Francisco that might provide more information about school-wide approaches. These stories are part of a series about schools that are taking a compassionate approach to school discipline. Later this year, I'll do a story about what a school and district need to have the most success, in terms of reductions in referrals, suspensions, expulsions, absenteeism, and an increase in...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Melanie, You are so right when you say that teachers (and administrators) don't always listen to people who have not "been in the classroom." You are in an incredibly unique position being both a special education director and a parent of children who have experienced trauma. If anyone can get through to the teachers and admin, it should be you. I think its terribly unfortunate when some school personnel don't want new information, or won't even listen to new information because they...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Hi Dominic, You are correct. Our students are between the ages of 15 and 20, with the average age being 17 yrs and 9 months. Screening at younger ages may need to be done face to face, or by having a parent/guardian fill out a survey? We also do a comprehensive file review when a new student enrolls. We request records from all previous schools, medical records (when applicable), and in some cases we will call the previous school(s) to try to gain a better understanding of what the child has...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
I appreciate your work and hope you can continue in Texas. I think you especially hit the issue head on when you identify that trauma-informed practice is not just sometimes for some people. The systemic and cultural/philosophical changes that ACE directs us towards represent the movement that Dr. Anda refers to. As a mental health clinician who worked for a time in the schools, I marveled at the disconnect between educational practices and psychology/social work interventions. I understand...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Hi Wendy, I am so glad you replied. Having seen the disconnect in the schools where you have worked, do you have any ideas on how to bridge that gap? I know that in MN, the teacher licensure process is extensive, and by the time educators are done with their schooling, you would hope that they had been inundated with information on child development, brain development, cognitive processing, etc. But that does not appear to be the case, at least not at any depth. I'd appreciate any thoughts...
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Re: How are schools incorporating trauma informed practices, if they are at all?
Hi Wendy, I could not agree more. We recently hired a whole group of new staff who are school counselors but also have teaching certifications. The new staff members are called "student success coordinators" and are going to be serving as a hybrid teacher/case manager/counselor. This new group of staff members are going to be on the front line of education, working with their students everyday. With their counseling training and experience and their direct interaction with students, they...
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Re: Has anyone surveyed teacher attitudes about trauma-informed care as a way to collect some baseline data?
Does your survey consider teacher self-care from the trauma experienced via workplace bullying in education? Does your district have a workplace bullying policy? A year ago, the AFT and Badass Teachers Association conducted an unscientific, national survey ("Quality of Work life Survey") which indicated teachers were deeply stressed... That survey lef to an amendment in ESSA (co-authored by Senators Booker and Baker) so that school district communities can apply for Title II funding in order...
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Behavioral Health in Schools
Hello--I work for a health foundation in Alaska and our (geographically large) borough is beginning its third cohort of trauma-sensitive schools. With this work and intention, our schools are contracting with local behavioral health providers to offer accessible, onsite services to meet student needs, particularly emergent and episodic. We need to determine a strategic, standardized and sustainable model for the long-term as need and capacity grows in our school district. There are...
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Healing ACE's
February 11, 2019 ACE’s Connection Resource Center - ACE's in Education. To Whom it may concern, I am writing you this post as a past president of the Michigan Association of School Psychologists and adoptive father of two foster children with special needs. My wife, Barbara, and I have written two books concerning educating and raising abused and abandoned children. Because these books will be helpful to both parents and teachers I am posting this letter to education and parenting pages.
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Research on emotional impact of assessment in schools
Hi all, In Oregon we are looking at the the emotional impact of assessments (defined broadly, including formative and summative assessments) in schools. We are working on figuring out how to use quality assessment practices in school to impact the emotional affect of educators, students, and families, and trying to use it to support trauma informed practices. One example could include using more informal formative assessments to influence and adjust teaching and student support so that...
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Resources on Promoting Attendance
Hello! I am currently working on a team that is looking to make changes to the way we assess and respond to chronically absent students. Does anyone know of any research that shows how trauma informed approaches have increased student attendance? Does any one have any resources regarding how to best communicate the importance of school attendance to parents/caregivers and students? And lastly, any additional resources regarding how to best nudge students and families that are on track to...
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Teachers - Share your stories!
The California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators is looking for teachers to interview for their teacher-focused Professional Development this summer. They plan to host an online conference on September 15 (with pre-recorded mini-lectures and interviews) entitled, "Educational Justice: Turning Policy into Practice" with a focus on student equity and social justice. I did a training for them in March on ACEs, so this would be a great opportunity for some of the...
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Trauma informed Classroom for Deaf students
Recently, I attended an IEP for a primary age Deaf child whose 'back to school' weeks have come from Hell. I'm both an adult with disAbilities and a long time teacher (both general and special education) - 44 years. It was as though the school knew nothing about trauma and even less about what it's like to live with trauma from having a disability. Child had gotten a new teacher this year. This child, like other kids born deaf to hearing parents, lived thru several years without language...
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Trauma-Informed Schools_Teacher Certification
I am considering alternative special education teacher certification in Missouri (St. Louis), preferably in a LD/ED or (second choice) cross categorical class in a K-12 school district that is integrating trauma-informed practice. Please do reach out to me if you know of a school district that uses alternative certification agreements and is pursing trauma-informed organizational development. I realize this may be a tall order. Thanks in advance.
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Trauma-Informed/Sensitive Classrooms
Hello to all my Education TIC/ACE gurus! I've been trying to play catch up with the chat you had last week regarding ACES in education (I was in my grad school class). Some of what you've said really resonated with me here in Montgomery...
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Re: Researcher looking for Gaps
Hi there. I'm a phd student in British Columbia, and I focus on trauma in teaching -- online in particular but with the general college population as well. I'd be happy to connect, if you're still interested.
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Re: Researcher looking for Gaps
Hey Suzanne, I'm a school-based Trauma Educator in Northern California -- one of the conversations I keep saying hasn't happened yet is the connection between trauma-impacted kids and special education diagnosis. (A million years ago, before ACEs) my dissertation looked at outcomes for two categories of SPED: SED and EDBD - severely emotionally disturbed and emotionally disturbed behaviorally disordered -- now, with all the ACEs research we know that these are the kids -- mostly black and...
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Re: For parents who want to talk to schools
Hello Ariane, I have some suggestions: Chapter 4 of The Connected Child (attached with permission) shows the disarming of fear to create felt safety in what I think is an approachable way that is easy to share with teachers. An Article of "Trauma Informed Classrooms" from Adoption Advocate (attached with permission) gives some practical framework to what is needed in a classroom setting TBRI® Animate: Toxic Stress & The Brain - is helpful as well. I provide resources for Southern...
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Re: Partners in Georgia and States Near Georgia
Beth, I just wanted to share the promotional material for the conference, just in case you had folks you might want to send it to. Any help in getting the word out is greatly appreciated! Robbyn https://parentingbeyondpunishm...educationconference/ Tina Payne Bryson, PhD will be one of the keynote speakers: http://conta.cc/2r6Vqa8
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Re: Researcher looking for Gaps
Hello Jennifer, Suzanne and Lisa, I would love to join in this information exchange. I am a doctoral student and counselor. I have interest in the research gap you mentioned. I too have spent many car rides driving and pondering the intersection of ACES and SPED. I was even looking into TI modified resources which will support their FBAs, IEPs and other documents that travel with them from school to school. I would love to hear your ideas.
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Re: Pilot Program... Can a Picture Book Promote Mindfulness?
Here is an attachment a teacher made to show other teachers the success of our program. I would be happy to talk to you on the phone if you like.
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Re: Trauma Informed Curriculum for 13-18 year olds that have experienced trauma?
Erin, I would suggest you consult with the child's trauma therapist. Any child that has a trauma history should (and would greatly benefit) from having a "Trauma Trigger Management Plan." Avoiding triggers creates a fine line to walk. In a classroom setting - I think it's very important to avoid triggers - in a personal confidential and therapeutic setting - where a child may want help processing a trigger - is a different scenario but should only be addressed by a team working with that...
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Re: PPT for High School Students explaining ACEs
When I was a suicidal teen, I wish someone would have explained to me what was going on in my brain and that I wasn’t insane. I believe it is appropriate for teens -generally - maybe explained in a more general way like when you have these experiences and poverty and foster care and homelessness - your brain develops in a certain way and you will need support and to take special care. I’m my humble opinion, Laura and Dr. Anda are wrong. PS - If I had still been in N. MI, I would have been in...
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Re: Partners in Georgia and States Near Georgia
Hi Robbyn, I am just now seeing this post... I can give you an idea of what's happening in Athens. We have a pretty active group working on a collaborative impact model to help Athens become a TIC. You can see info on the community summit here: http://a2aathens.weebly.com/the-summit.html You can also see all of the stakeholders who were involved in the Summit-- it's a diverse group . The primary convener is the Family Connections-Communities in Schools folks. It was one of their action...
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Use of COVID relief/stimulus funding for trauma-informed education
Just over a year ago, the CAREs Act passed with $13.2 billion in education relief funds for elementary and secondary schools among other education funding. Recently, the Federal Rescue Act was signed into law providing an additional $130 billion in funding for education that includes funds to address the impact of the pandemic on student education and well-being. This survey by Campaign for Trauma-Informed Policy and Practice (CTIPP) and PACEs Connection is seeking to find out if any of...
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What are you hearing about non-profits accesing ESSER funding
Hi all- I'm curious about anyone has connected with their local district to provide SEL or other mental health supports to address the tsunami of student trauma. We have developed an ESSER Toolkit to help organizations learn about ESSER and reach out to their schools. I've heard of some states starting to push out RFPs and I'm curious to learn more. Thanks!
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Seeking Support for Trauma-Informed MTSS Implementation/Atlanta, GA
On behalf of my school district in Metro Atlanta, we are actively seeking the support of a dynamic speaker or organization to inspire and guide us in transitioning from our 'why' to our 'how/what' phase as we implement trauma-informed practices within our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) process. We recognize the importance of expert insight in facilitating systematic changes within our MTSS framework. The primary audience for this speaking engagement will be social workers, school...