Book Chat: Fostering Resilient Learners (Part I: Trauma)

In case you missed our book chat this morning, feel free to read through the notes below!

How does trauma manifest itself in the brain?   

How is this shown in our students’ behavior in the classroom?

Introduction Video:  Hand Model of the Brain

• Nearly 35 million U.S. children have experienced at least one type of childhood trauma. (National Survey of Children’s Health, 2011/2012)

• One study of young children ages 2-5 found that 52% had experiences a severe stressor in their lifetime. (Egger & Angold, 2006)

• A report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds. (ChildHelp, 2013)

• In 2010, suicide was the second leading cause of death among children ages 12-17. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011)

Correlation Between Number of ACEs and Struggles with School and Health

	Attendance	Behavior	Coursework	Health
3+ ACEs	4.9	6.1	2.9	3.9
2 ACEs	2.6	4.3	2.5	2.4
1 ACE	2.2	2.4	1.5	2.3
No known ACEs	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

The more ACEs a student experience, the more likely he or she was to experience serious school and health issues.

• 45% of students had at least one ACE
• 22% of students had multiple ACEs
• 1 in 16 students had an ACE score of 4+

What Fight, Flight, or Freeze Looks Like in the Classroom

Flight	Fight	Freeze
Withdrawing Fleeing the classroom Skipping class Daydreaming Seeming to sleep Avoiding others Hiding or wandering Becoming disengaged	Acting out Behaving aggressively Acting silly Exhibiting defiance Being hyperactive Arguing Screaming/yelling Drugs/Alcohol	Exhibiting numbness Refusing to answer Refusing to get needs met Giving a blank look Feeling unable to move or act

Upstairs Brain vs. Downstairs Brain

Fostering Resilient Learners, Kristen Souers with Pete Hall