Thank you for spending the past three months engaging with our Tips on Tuesdays. A lot of content was covered. You heard about trauma and how common it is that students in your classroom come with a history of trauma. We as human beings all need safety and security, these are basic human needs. Creating a classroom that provides a sense of security is even more important for students facing high levels of stress. Approaching your teaching from a trauma-sensitive lens can make a huge difference.

We also talked about vicarious trauma and how you can be impacted by the challenges faced by your students. Teaching is an amazing field, but let’s be honest, it can also be quite demanding. We tried to provide some tools for you to help you manage your own stress. Specifically, we talked about mindfulness and how to notice your reactions and remember to breathe with intention. Building self-awareness and reaching out to your resources are important as you navigate rocky waters that might emerge even unexpectedly.

While we talked about trauma, we were also deliberate to provide content about resilience and the fact that even when we as human beings experience high levels of stress, we do have the capacity to cope and adapt. You are resilient and you have an incredible opportunity to cultivate the process of resilience in your students. You learned about the ten most commonly cited strengths or protective factors that help you and your students adapt. We also spent a good deal of time talking about the importance of relationships. Building relationships with your students grounded in unconditional positive regard is the most impactful thing you as a teacher can do to cultivate the process of resilience in your students. You matter.

We want to give you some time to step away from these tips and apply these concepts. Enjoy your break and remember to take care of yourself! We will be back again with another set of tips soon.