Qiran, Jianguo, & Junjie (2020, October 22). We Can Help Students with Trauma Face Life More Positively. ASCD: Trauma Informed Schools, 16(4). Retrieved October 23, 2020.

Many children who attend school have or will experience some type of trauma that may affect cognition, behavior, and relationships (Van Der Kolk, 2014). According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, difficulties that accompany trauma can also include poor social skills, increased aggression, an inability to trust, dysregulation, fearfulness, anxiety, and avoidant behaviors (NCTSN, 2016). What can we do to help support these students in regaining trust and decreasing anxiety? Rather than trying to normalize what they’re going through, we should educate them in self-awareness.