OTAN News

How Teachers and Schools Can Help When Bad Stuff Happens

The following is an excerpt from the article. The full version can be accessed here.

Joy Osofsky, professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at Louisiana State University: "I would recommend that they address issues from the beginning. Talk to the students about: You know, we've all been through a difficult experience. I know that some of you may have lost your home. Some of you been in a shelter and been in very unusual circumstances.

And we're here to be supportive of you and understand the kinds of things that you've gone through. And we're going to work to establish the routines in school that you're used to, which we know is very important in adapting to the new situation. But we also want you to know that we're available to listen to you if that would be helpful."

Belva Parrish, school counselor at Woodrow Wilson Montessori School in Houston: "Trauma stems from not having any control of your situation. ... Banding together, being a place where students feel safe and they know they have a voice to be heard, will go a long way towards helping them."

Bereavement
Many students will at some point experience the loss of a loved one or family member. GrievingStudents.org is a database of fact sheets, advice and videos. Seven out of 10 teachers have a student currently in their classroom who is grieving, according to research by the New York Life Foundation and the American Federation of Teachers.

Source: nprEd How Learning Happens (October 5, 2017)