According to research, as many as 68% of students have experienced at least some form of trauma (Cavanaugh, 2016). Yet, most educators report feeling inadequate about understanding trauma-informed practice, including understanding how trauma can impact student behavior in the classroom. This article provides a primer about trauma that can allow…

Background: It is estimated that approximately 90% of children in foster care have experienced a traumatic event, with nearly half reporting exposure to 4 or more types of traumatic events. Educators must remain alert to indicators suggesting a history of trauma and understand the difficulties foster youth may face regulating their emotions and…

Today's classrooms call for a delicate balance of policy and practice. Early childhood educators are tasked with developing the social, emotional, and academic wellbeing of the children they serve, while also following school, district, and government expectations. Many teachers struggle to effectively teach academic content, given their students'…

Trauma-informed frameworks are needed in metropolitan and urban university settings because many who enter higher education have experienced trauma or will experience trauma while at the university. This paper addresses the neurobiological and psychological underpinnings of trauma and addresses how these experiences can pose academic challenges,…

As violence, behavioral outbursts, and truancy continues to rise in classrooms across our state and nation, educators struggle to find ways to engage and connect with their students. Teachers and support staff realize that what is happening to their students outside of school is having an impact on their ability to learn. They are learning that…

Since the release of the Missouri Model for Trauma-Informed Schools approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in 2019, school leaders were given the opportunity to start the process of meeting the emotional and fundamental needs of students. With the effects of trauma reaching all diverse groups of race, gender,…

In any given environmental education program there are students who have experienced trauma, yet the field has not expanded to consider the particular needs of these students. This paper weaves together strands from psychology, education, and healthcare to outline the concept of trauma and how it manifests in students and to introduce a series of…

The purpose of this multiple case study is to explore the perceived ability of early elementary teachers in three rural school districts in the Eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan to identify children who have experienced trauma and to pinpoint and implement impactful interventions that support these identified students. The number of children who…

This mixed methods study examines trauma in elementary school children and the need for a relationship to maximize their learning opportunities. Check-in/Check-out is a Tier Two intervention that was used to prioritize behavioral goals, maximize the relationship based on a less-than five minute meeting between the student and the…

This qualitative descriptive study was designed to explore educators and school leaders in Arizona and experiences that contributed to their preparation and work with the traumatic brain injured population. Specifically, experiences that influenced their understanding of the academic and behavioral needs of students were explored. Qualitative…

Platt outlines some simple but effective strategies to help students who are struggling with trauma. She relies on her own personal story with trauma to influence how she identifies and helps students who are struggling and offers tips on how to show love, stay calm, and be consistent when dealing with students who may be having a meltdown, acting…

Trauma has profound and far-reaching impacts on the behavioral, cognitive, emotional, physical, and social functioning of individuals (Perry et al., 1995). The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study (Feletti et al., 1998) was seminal in identifying the high percentage of individuals who had experienced ACEs. Moreover, it was influential in…

Trauma and the exposure of trauma among adolescents can significantly impact a child's ability to find success in the school setting. Trauma-affected students can experience difficulties physically, mentally, emotionally, and developmentally, affecting their academics and behavior. This study explored the perceptions of teachers and the causes and…

Currently more than 400,000 youth are placed in foster care across the United States. Between 33% and 50% of these children receive special education services. Nearly half of foster care youth with disabilities are identified as having emotional and behavioral disorders, in part due to their exposure to maltreatment including neglect, substance…

Studies reveal students who deal with complex traumas must manage negative impacts to their development. These impacts reveal themselves in the challenges young children and adolescents face with learning and behavioral management. Yet, schools across the United States are not mandated to learn about, create, nor implement trauma sensitive…