Fostering Resilient Learners: Strategies for Creating a Trauma-Sensitive Classroom
A Review by Christine Lowry
Kristin Souers and Pete Hall offer an excellent overview and place to begin on our path as educators who are committed to supporting students experiencing the stress of trauma. The book shares information in five sections- understanding trauma, the importance of self-awareness for the educator, the importance of relationship with our students, taking a look at our beliefs, and how we must engage in on-going self- care to do this work.
Each chapter begins with information to increase our knowledge and guide our practice. Kristin brings her perspective as a mental health therapist in her sharing of the what, the why, and the impacts of trauma while Pete, a public-school principal, shares the stories of students that makes the information real.
In addition to the understanding and useful knowledge they include, each section ends with a set of self- reflection questions for the reader to ponder, to explore, and to inform our practice as we bring a “trauma-sensitive” lens to our classroom.
Souers, K. & Hall, P. (2016). Fostering Resilient Learners: Strategies for creating trauma-sensitive classroom. ASCD.