If you’re trying to just be a “trauma-informed” educator, you may be missing a BIG piece of the puzzle: relationships.
This school year, it’s crucial to adopt both trauma-informed and relationship-focused strategies to help students learn and engage in your classroom.
So… what is trauma-informed education, really?
When you’re teaching with a trauma-informed lens, you’re viewing the student in front of you with an understanding that how they are showing up and behaving in your classroom, might be impacted by something out of their control: trauma.
According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network , approximately 25% of American children will experience at least one traumatic event by the age of 16. These experiences could include abuse or neglect, witnessing domestic violence, lacking basic necessities at home, or experiencing loss of a family member, just to name a few.
Due to these experiences, many students arrive at school in what’s known as the ‘back brain’ mode—a state of heightened stress and survival. This physiological response occurs when the brain’s fight-or-flight mechanisms are activated, making it difficult for students to focus, learn, and engage.
Trauma-informed education acknowledges that these experiences can significantly impact a student’s ability to learn and interact with others. This approach emphasizes empathy, understanding, and support.
Where do relationships come in?
Complex trauma often arises within the caregiving system, where children may not receive the care and support they need. This can disrupt the development of secure attachment relationships. Therefore, they see adults as unpredictable, unsafe, and untrustworthy. In the context of a classroom, this might make it challenging for your student to connect with you as their teacher.
So when a student has been through trauma, they see adults as untrustworthy and they are in a heightened level of stress – this is not a state they are ready to learn in.
Trauma-informed and relationship-focused teachers take this whole picture approach. By employing trauma-informed strategies, teachers help students transition from their back brain into a more relaxed state, while relationship-focused methods rebuild trust and foster connection. This combination paves the way for meaningful learning.
This dual approach not only supports students’ emotional well-being but also allows them to access the higher-order thinking skills needed for learning. By recognizing the importance of both trauma-informed and relationship-focused education, educators can create a learning environment that empowers students to thrive.
