5 Must-Read Books for Trauma-Informed Teaching

5 Must-Read Books for Trauma-Informed Teaching

Trauma-informed teaching is a philosophy of teaching that seeks to create a safe, supportive, and healing environment for students who have experienced trauma. It involves an understanding of the impact of trauma on brain development, social and emotional functioning, and learning. If you are a teacher interested in implementing a trauma-informed approach in your classroom, here are five must-read books that can guide you in your journey.

1. “Fostering Resilient Learners” by Kristin Souers

This book provides practical strategies for creating a trauma-sensitive classroom that supports the social, emotional, and academic needs of all students. It discusses the impact of trauma on students and offers insights into how to build strong relationships with them, create a safe environment, and use empathy to support their learning.

2. “The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk

This book is a comprehensive overview of the effects of trauma on the brain and body. It offers insights into how trauma affects memory, emotions, and behavior, and how it can manifest in physical symptoms. It also provides strategies for healing and recovery, including somatic therapy and mindfulness-based interventions.

3. “Teaching with Poverty in Mind” by Eric Jensen

While poverty and trauma are not the same, they do overlap in many ways, and students who experience trauma are often from low-income families. This book explores the effects of poverty on brain development and learning, and offers practical strategies for supporting students who live in poverty and are impacted by trauma.

4. “Help for Billy: A Beyond Consequences Approach to Helping Challenging Children in the Classroom” by Heather Forbes

This book offers a unique perspective on trauma-informed teaching by focusing on the impact of early attachment disruptions on behavior in the classroom. It provides insights into how to build positive relationships with students and create a safe and supportive learning environment by using a trauma-informed, beyond-consequences approach.

5. “Trauma-Sensitive Schools: Learning Communities Transforming Children’s Lives, K-5” by Susan E. Craig, Jane Ellen Stevens, and Peter Levine

This book is a practical guide to creating a trauma-sensitive school that supports the needs of all students, including those affected by trauma. It covers a wide range of topics, from understanding the effects of trauma on learning to implementing trauma-informed practices in the classroom and school-wide.

In conclusion, trauma-informed teaching is a critical approach that recognizes the impact of trauma on students and seeks to create a safe and supportive learning environment for all. By reading these five must-read books for trauma-informed teaching, you can gain insights into the impact of trauma on students and the strategies and practices that can help support their healing and recovery.