MED666 Trauma-Informed Teaching (3 cr.)

Exposure to traumatic events in childhood is common. Although not all exposure to trauma leads to difficulty in functioning, research shows that exposure to trauma and toxic stress changes people. Just as a physical assault on the body can cause bodily impairment, psychological trauma can result in a mental injury that impacts such things as a child’s ability to regulate emotions, attend to classroom activities, and/or achieve normal developmental milestones.  Teachers have a great ability to prevent and mitigate the impact of traumatic exposure on students. By becoming trauma-sensitive, teachers can become a protective factor for these students and increase their social, emotional and academic skills. Trauma-Informed teaching is a process, not a product. Strategic and thoughtful implementation is critical to ensure successful implementation in the classroom.

Upon completion of this course, the learner is expected to be able to do the following:

1. Engage in collegial learning that reflects the values of a professional learning community where they learn from and with one another.
2. Participate in inquiry that deepens their understanding of trauma-informed teaching and learning in a meaningful, complex, and sustainable manner.
3. Engage in ongoing reflection and dialogue to develop and demonstrate understanding about trauma-informed practice.
4. Apply trauma-informed teaching practices to their teaching, site-based, and district initiatives.
5. Engage in assessment of learning prior to, throughout, and after the professional learning experience.
6. Document evidence of their understanding of trauma-informed teaching and the impact their learning has on student achievement in an ongoing way.