7 Quick Wins for a Trauma Informed Classroom

I was recently asked what my quick wins were for a trauma informed classroom and it got me thinking …

Yes there are many quick wins in the classroom, and I will go through my top 7 later on in this article, but I wanted to highlight something first. I am happy to give practical examples for the classroom, but it is with the caveat that the staff who use them have an understanding about why they work.

When you learn about trauma informed, attachment aware and relational practice; when you know about its deep scientific basis and you understand that this is human, natural and so deeply ingrained in us - you will ‘get it!’ And when you get it, you will believe in it, you will invest in it and with practice you will see its effects. You will start to look through a trauma informed, attachment aware and relational lens at everything that you do and others do and at this point you will be naturally think of your own quick wins and you will develop your practice with confidence and success. You will be able to support others and help to develop a whole setting ethos.

Change is challenging for everyone, and our brains always want to go back to what is the ‘norm’ whether it is good for you or not. So changing from your previous practice, if it does not align with being trauma informed, may be hard. There is no shame or blame with anything that has happened in the past, and nobody is expected to get it perfectly straight away. It is all about moving forward with positivity.

It is also important to remember that there is so much great work that you are already doing - remind yourself of this every chance you get!

So if my 7 quick wins can help you to move safely through the transition into being trauma informed, attachment aware and relational then I am more than happy to provide! So here they are …

1)???? Connect with the other adults before the day starts – this could be the teacher in the classroom next door, another teaching assistant from the same key stage as you, the office staff as you enter the building, the other members of the nursery team.

Why does this work?

-??????? You connect with your adult support network

-??????? You feel a sense of belonging

-??????? It builds your resilience

-??????? It is an opportunity for co-regulation if you or they need it

-??????? It gets you ready to support each other

-??????? It reminds you that you are part of a community

2)???? Welcome in every child, every day ?- whether this is from your desk, waving a good morning and saying their names as they enter the classroom or whether you welcome each child into the nursery as they arrive. As many times as you can - welcome them in.

Why does this work?

-??????? They feel a sense of belonging

-??????? They feel part of a community

-??????? You get to know them even better

-??????? For children with trauma it can mean that they feel that their existence is acknowledged

-??????? It can make them feel grounded

-??????? Your brain and nervous system says ‘hello’ too and they catch your calm

-??????? Your brain and nervous system is connected to theirs so you can feel their emotions.

-??????? You can gauge who is ok and who is not as they enter the room.

3)???? Include Vagal tone exercises – these are short and sweet, they can happen at any point in the day. I advise you add it into your timetable where you can. It can be in the form of breathing exercises, short guided meditations, visits to green outside areas, listening to calming music, singing, humming or a good joke!

Why does it work?

-??????? We know that engaging the Vagus nerve calms the nervous system, and the more you do it the quicker the Vagus nerve can respond when it is needed. All of this supports self-regulation.

-??????? It can be added in to calm the class/group as and when they need it

-??????? It can build relationships and classroom community

-??????? It helps you to feel and understand what is happening in your body when you calm down

-??????? It helps the adults as well as the children and young people

4)???? Have personal connection moments – these are moments where you connect one to one with a child/young person. It can be very quick or it can be for longer. For example, make a note to mention to Sam that you heard that they were great in football club, Ask Alfie if he has made anymore brownies recently and remind him how amazing the ones were he gave you for Christmas and ask Lilly how her pet fish is? Anything that can give you a quick personalised link with them. Make sure you add them all in over a few weeks, if you can, so they all feel the magic!

Why does it work?

-??????? They believe that they are important to you

-??????? They connect to you in a way that builds positive pathways in the brain

-??????? They get the message that adults care, they listen and are trustworthy? - this could be positively changing their inner working model

-??????? Positive experiences are highlighted to them, they may have been golden moments that have not been processed and acknowledged by their brains and so you are giving them another chance to get noticed!

-??????? You will get the opportunity to connect with them, giving them the opportunity to talk and share

-??????? It will help to build your relationship

5)???? Tell those who need to hear it ‘I am glad you are here’ – Saying this or something similar is important to those who may have been out of class for whatever reason, those who have been off school, or who find it hard to get into school in the morning and for those who you have would have had a challenging time over the holidays. It also helps any staff who have been having a challenging time.

Why does it work?

-??????? They get the message that they are needed, wanted and appreciated

-??????? It may mean that they think about the fact that they are glad that they are there too

-??????? For those with trauma it can help them to feel grounded and may help them to get out of a ‘dissociation bubble’

-??????? It communicates to them that all is well between the two of you

-??????? It communicates that they are safe here

-??????? It gives them the message that ‘we are in this together’

6)???? It is always a fresh start – When there has been a challenging time, the next time that you see that child/young person you need to make sure it is a fresh start. Do not take their previous behaviour personally. Treat it as a new day, be grateful to them for being there and do not cause any shame or trigger them by reminding them of what happened, show that you believe in them and then they will believe in themselves.

Why does this work?

-??????? It makes them feel safe emotionally and physically

-??????? You send them the message that they are not defined by their behaviour

-??????? You have positive interactions with them that build positive pathways in the brain

-??????? It will make them realize that they are still part of the community

-??????? It will strengthen your relationship with them

-??????? It will give them a safe space to talk though things if they want to

7)???? Use emotion language when you can – Such as adding how you felt so shocked and angry when you read that line in the book that you could barely read the next line and felt your face and hands get hot. Or tell them about when you understood something that you found tricky for the first time and it made you feel so happy you had tears of joy. Telling the children and young people how you felt in your body and naming the emotions is extremely valuable.

Why does this work?

-??????? It shows the children/young people that their emotions are normal and part of being human

-??????? You are linking the body and the emotion for them which helps them to understand their own

-??????? You are building their emotional literacy

-??????? You are modelling to them by explaining scenarios and how you coped with the big emotions that you felt

-??????? They will be able to talk about their own experiences too

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Trauma informed, attachment aware and relational practice has many benefits, it heals trauma, mends communities, increases engagement, promotes pro-social behaviour, increases emotional literacy, supports co-regulation and self-regulation, increases attendance and means that the children and young people can reach their academic potential. It also supports staff well being and resilience.

So, give them a go. I’d love to hear how they have supported your practice and I’d love to hear what your ‘Quick Wins’ are!