Trauma

Notes from students expressing support and sharing coping strategies paper a wall, as members of the Miami Arts Studio mental health club raise awareness on World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, 2023, at Miami Arts Studio, a public 6th-12th grade magnet school, in Miami.
Notes from students express support and share coping strategies at Miami Arts Studio, a public magnet school for grades 6-12, on Oct. 10, 2023. Studies find teachers need training to navigate their own stress while managing classes with high-need students.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP
Student Well-Being What the Research Says How Teacher Stress Management Is Crucial for Handling Student Mental Health
A Chicago program helps teachers learn how to manage their own stress in classes with more easily triggered students.
Sarah D. Sparks, June 14, 2024
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4 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
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English-Language Learners Opinion When Teaching English Learners, Embrace These 3 Critical Mindsets
English learners will have more success if teachers adjust their thinking. Here's how.
Larry Ferlazzo, May 17, 2024
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4 min read
School staff cheer as students returned to in-person classes at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, following a shooting on Oct. 24, 2022, that killed a student and a teacher. Kacy Shahid, then the school's principal, faced the challenge of guiding the school community through recovery as she struggled herself to process the events.
School staff cheer as students returned to in-person classes at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in St. Louis on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, following a shooting on Oct. 24, 2022, that killed a student and a teacher. Kacy Shahid, then the school's principal, faced the challenge of guiding the school community through recovery as she struggled herself to process the events.
Jim Salter/AP
School Climate & Safety What Helped These K-12 Leaders After School Shootings
School shootings leave deep and lasting impact on the community, including those charged with leading students and staff in the aftermath.
Caitlynn Peetz, May 16, 2024
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5 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
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Teaching Opinion How to Support Students Afflicted by Trauma
A major goal of trauma-informed practice is to limit the negative impact on student learning and well-being.
Larry Ferlazzo, November 9, 2023
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7 min read
Rear view of a father standing with his unsure, young son who is wearing a blue backpack and clinging to his dad's side while holding his hand. Blurred school building in background.
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School Climate & Safety How Schools Can Respond When Kids Are Too Scared to Come
A school psychologist has advice on how to respond to children traumatized by violence in their community.
Elizabeth Heubeck, October 31, 2023
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3 min read
People linger after a vigil for the victims of Wednesday's mass shootings, on Oct. 29, 2023, outside the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston, Maine.
People linger after a vigil for the victims of the Oct. 25 mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine. The vigil took place on Oct. 29, 2023, outside the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston.
Matt Rourke/AP
School Climate & Safety 'We Really Didn’t Know What to Do': How a District Regrouped After a Mass Shooting
The superintendent of a community rocked by a 2022 mass shooting discusses what the district did after the violence.
Caitlynn Peetz, October 30, 2023
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9 min read
In an undergraduate public policy course at the University of North Carolina, Simona Goldin asked students, "What do you need now?" just four days after an active shooter killed a faculty member on campus earlier this year. These are their answers.
In an undergraduate public policy course at the University of North Carolina, Simona Goldin asked students, "What do you need now?" just four days after an active shooter killed a faculty member on campus earlier this year. These are their answers.
Courtesy of Simona Goldin
Student Well-Being Opinion ‘What Is a Teacher to Do?’: Returning to the Classroom After a Tragedy
Earlier this year, an active shooter shook my campus. Here are my 3 lessons on preparing for the first day back in front of class.
Simona Goldin, October 26, 2023
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4 min read
Jess Paquette expresses her support for her city in the wake of Wednesday's mass shootings at a restaurant and bowling alley, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine. Police continue their manhunt for the suspect. Authorities urged residents to lock themselves in their homes and schools announced closures on Thursday. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Jess Paquette expresses her support for her city in the wake of Wednesday's mass shootings at a restaurant and bowling alley, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine. Police continue their manhunt for the suspect. Authorities urged residents to lock themselves in their homes and schools announced closures.
Robert F. Bukaty/AP
School Climate & Safety Educators Grapple with Grief, Horror in Aftermath of Maine Mass Shooting
Maine educators worried about their safety and their students after a gunman killed 18 people.
Libby Stanford, October 26, 2023
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5 min read
Student Well-Being Spotlight Spotlight on Trauma-Informed Instruction
This Spotlight will help you implement trauma-informed strategies, examine 5 tips to support students’ mental health, and more.

October 2, 2023
Illustration of a woman of color in distress with hands in her face and hair blowing upwards.
Fedrelena/iStock/Getty
Equity & Diversity How Can Schools Help Students Process Racial Trauma? A New Program Provides Answers
The pilot program sheds light on the role schools play in helping students heal from racial trauma.
Ileana Najarro, March 24, 2023
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6 min read
Student alone in an empty school hallway (blurred). Bullying, discrimination and racism.
Pornpak Khunatorn/iStock/Getty
Equity & Diversity Q&A How Schools Can Address Racial Stressors, An Expert Explains
A Stanford researcher looks at how schools play a role in interventions for students of color dealing with racial stressors.
Ileana Najarro, March 23, 2023
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6 min read
Image of a student with books in a huge classroom with equations everywhere.
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Mathematics Opinion Math Trauma Is Real. Here's How You Can Prevent It
When people hear I teach math, they often recount the one bad classroom experience that made them “check out” of math permanently.
Viveka Vaughn, March 19, 2023
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5 min read
Illustration of child holding missing adult hand.
F.Sheehan/Education Week and Getty
Student Well-Being What the Research Says National Panel: Kids Who Lost a Caregiver to COVID Need More Support
More than 265,000 children lost a parent or caregiver in the pandemic, the National Academies finds.
Sarah D. Sparks, March 17, 2023
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2 min read
Photograph of child's hand drawing a bright smiling sun.
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Student Well-Being Q&A This Teacher Shares Trauma-Informed Strategies on TikTok. Here Are Her Top Insights
Trauma-informed care starts with meeting kids' basic needs for connection, food, and motivation.
Hayley Hardison, March 9, 2023
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9 min read
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