Trauma Informed Instruction

A trauma-informed teacher is a teacher who understands the way a student could be affected, and strives to make their classroom a safe environment for all students. Koslouski and Chafouleas (2022) name six key principles of a trauma informed approach and the focus on training : 

• Safety: ensuring students physical and emotional safety needs are met. 

• Trustworthiness: building trust with students through open communication, clear boundaries, and consistency. 

• Peer Support: encouraging students to build community within each other. 

• Collaboration: mutual respect from both the teacher and student, this would then bleed into student-led education and advocating for the student's voice. 

• Empowerment: providing students with the opportunity to make their own choices, and instill confidence in students. 

• Cultural, Historical, and Gender issues: recognizing and addressing diverse backgrounds

Implementing trauma informed instruction has it's challenges, and is a whole school effort. Yet, there are ways to create an inclusive environment starting in your own classroom. 

Trauma Informed Instruction is a multi component form of education. Each step is important in aiding students who have experienced trauma. However, as educators it is important to be aware and understanding of trauma and the effect it may have on a student, regardless of the school culture. Being aware of trauma and its effects gives teachers an advantage, they are then able to become a support in a students life. Positive connections with student's encourages personal growth and effective learning. Teacher's who use TIP, encourage their students to feel safe and welcome, fostering positive growth. When you think back to the teachers you have met, what stuck with you that encouraged (or discouraged) a positive and welcoming environment. How did you feel you learned? Throughout my personal life, my teachers have been mostly positive, often encouraging relationships with their students. While I was a child at risk, it was important to me when my teachers truly took the time to ensure safety and build positive connections while I was at school. It's important to take the time as an educator to understand where your students may be coming from, by creating a classroom using TIP, you will be welcome to all walks of lives and ready to build security with those students.