Supporting Students Affected by Trauma

As students return to a more normal version of school, educators have noticed changes in their behavior. Some are more dependent on their phones. Others have shorter attention spans or a reduced ability to regulate their emotions. This is not surprising. Nobody was fully prepared to transition to remote learning. Some students had support and thrived, while others struggled–especially those whose parents needed to work, and had no child care options available.

Throughout the experience of pandemic learning, students often experienced altered social situations and sometimes social isolation. They did not have the stability of a school routine to structure their day, and they may not have had a teacher as readily available to help with academics or social and emotional needs.

In this collection of resources, we explore the topic of student trauma. We ask questions, provide tips, and strive to find ways to support students who may be experiencing trauma. While these resources can be helpful for independent study, you may find a richer experience if you review this content with other educators. Consider downloading the guiding questions to support your conversations around this important topic. These guides provide the prompts, and the resources provide ideas and potential strategies, but you and your team are the ones who will craft a solution that meets the needs of students in your system.