An inquiry into

compassionate
teaching
Vancouver Island University
Tem McCutcheon
Territory acknowledgement and gratitude

Guiding question

What is trauma?

How do trauma informed practices tie into inclusive education?

What does a trauma informed school do differently?

Self care

Discussion and gratitude

Yo. Nugʷaʔəm Tem. Gayuƛən lax̌
Noongar Country glu Lək̓ʷəŋən
Territory. Gukʷalən lax̌ K'ómoks
Territory.

Gila’kasla.
 What do trauma informed practices look
like when teaching Indigenous students?

Guiding question What does a compassionate

classroom look like?

What are the overlaps between teaching

through a social justice and inclusive
framework and trauma informed teaching?
 What is trauma?
“Psychological trauma has been defined as our response to emotionally or physically
harmful events that damage our ability to function across social, emotional, behavioral,
or physical domains”.

“Trauma can include a wide spectrum of events, ranging from acute experiences (e.g.,
surviving a natural disaster) to chronic trauma—known as complex trauma—which has
a persistently negative impact on the ways in which youth function... Complex trauma
may include, but is not limited to, physical or sexual abuse, ongoing community
violence, or parental neglect.” (Crosby et al, 2018, pg 16)

Shantel D. Crosby, Penny Howell & Shelley Thomas (2018) Social justice education through trauma-informed teaching ,
Middle School Journal, 49:4, 15-23, DOI:10.1080/00940771.2018.1488470
How do trauma informed practices tie into inclusive education?
SAFETY

ACADEMIC SOCIAL CULTURAL

INCLUSION INCLUSION INCLUSION

“The definition of safety for Indigenous students needs to include the safety of identity,
culture, language, worldview, and approach and solutions to problems”

Jennifer Katz, Ensouling Our Schools

 “Trauma-informed practice in schools requires educators
to recognize the prevalence, impact, and indicators of
childhood trauma and to respond to student behavior in
ways that support traumatized youth without
re-traumatization” (Crosby et al, 2018, pg 17)

Shantel D. Crosby, Penny Howell & Shelley Thomas (2018) Social justice education through trauma-informed teaching ,
Middle School Journal, 49:4, 15-23, DOI:10.1080/00940771.2018.1488470
 What does a trauma informed school do differently?

Realising Recognizing Responding Resisting

Realizing the widespread Recognizing traumas signs Responding by integrating Resisting re-traumatization of
impact of trauma and and symptoms knowledge about trauma into trauma-impacted individuals
pathways to recovery all facets of the system by decreasing the occurrence
of unnecessary triggers and by
implementing compassionate
National Child Traumatic Stress Network, Schools Committee. (2017).Creating, practices
supporting, and sustaining trauma-informed schools: A system framework
. Los Angeles,
CA, and Durham, NC: National Center for Child Traumatic Stress
.
Ron Hertel, Mona M. Johnson, Susan O. Kincaid, Ray Wolpow (2016)The Heart of Learning and Teaching
, Washington State
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) Compassionate Schools
What does a trauma informed classroom look like?

● Expressive learning ● Teaching to the child’s individual learning style

● Predictable structure
● More successes than failures
● Adult-mediated peer interaction
● External cognitive structure
● An “unschool” setting
● Encouragement through relationship
● Even competition
● Internalized goal setting
● Enjoyment and fun
● Variety of activities and help with transitions
● Choices in areas of the child’s interests
● Cooperative group efforts that promote teamwork

Basha Krasnoff,(n.d) A Practitioner’s Guide to Educating Traumatised Children

. Education Northwest.
Provide an environment where healing can occur
Self-care as a teacher
Compassion fatigue: “the feeling of being less
motivated and less able to alleviate suffering”
(Aguila, 2018, p. 210)

Our mental health impacts our students.

There is a need to address both student and
teacher wellness

Show yourself compassion, practice letting go

and be intentional about self-care
“So often, trauma happens in relationships, but it is
also in relationships that healing occurs.”
Dr. Bruce Perry, Child Trauma Academy
Thoughts, questions, ponderings...
In what ways does the entire school community support a healthy, safe, and compassionate
school climate?

How do we determine the trauma history of our students?

What kinds of supports are in place for facilitating the social-emotional learning of traumatized
students?