Training Videos

How do our well-intentioned beliefs sometimes get in the way of becoming trauma-informed educators? This video introduces a three-question framework for reflective practice to test the mindsets we hold and their impact on students. We apply this framework to the commonly heard phrase, "We just need to prepare kids for the real world," examining its underlying assumptions and the rigid practices it often leads to. Learn to shift your language and actions from penalty-focused discipline to a coaching approach that builds student responsibility and capacity through grace and support.

Feeling stretched thin in the classroom? This video offers ten practical, trauma-informed strategies to help educators avoid power struggles and keep students in the room even when things get tense. We discuss how to regulate your own energy first, and then use moves like offering voice and choice, creating clear pathways, and giving dignity-saving exits. The core takeaway is that true power lies in holding the space and building trust with students, ensuring accountability comes through partnership, not control.

What if "misbehavior" is actually a sign of stress or past trauma? This video helps educators reframe student actions by explaining the Four Stress Responses: Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn. Learn to look past negative labels (like "lazy" or "defiant") and instead recognize these behaviors as survival strategies that contain protective strengths. By understanding this reframing, you'll learn how to channel those instincts into productive ways, supporting students to move from surviving to thriving with intentionality.

When a student is upset, our natural instinct is often to correct them, but this video teaches the importance of connecting first to regulate their nervous system. Learn the PEARLS framework (Partnership, Empathy, Apology, Respect, Legitimation, and Support) as a powerful sequence to build safety and trust, even in moments of high tension. Discover how using these simple steps can soften defensiveness and make gentle redirection possible, leading to far more effective accountability and repair.

Chaos during transition times (like arrival or dismissal) erodes safety and increases stress for both students and adults. This quick exercise guides you in designing a "Routine Card" for one tricky transition in your day. Learn how to incorporate a simple visual cue, a verbal cue, and an active student role to create predictability. The focus is on implementing simple, clear routines that build trust and stability, expanding everyone's window of tolerance for a calmer classroom flow.

Cultural humility is essential for trauma-informed practice. This video explores how classroom practices, even those meant to be helpful, can unintentionally disadvantage or misinterpret certain students. We identify common "bias risks" (e.g., assuming silence equals disengagement or demanding eye contact) and offer specific responsive adjustments to those practices. Use this reflection to make intentional shifts in your teaching that ensure every student feels seen, included, and safe enough to connect and learn.