Dealing with Loss in the Classroom
Location
Guzman 113, Dominican University of California
Start Date
4-17-2019 3:20 PM
Student Type
Undergraduate
Faculty Mentor(s)
Kathleen Ferrando
Presentation Format
Oral Presentation
Abstract/Description
School can be challenging enough for most students, who have not experienced the harsh realities of what life brings. For those students who have gone through or who are are going through traumatic experiences, school can be either a safe place or confusing and anxiety-ridden maze. One of the jobs of a teacher is being aware of the mental health of their students. The purpose of my research is to better understand how to handle students that have dealt with traumatic experiences, especially the death of a loved one. How can teachers best accommodate their student’s emotions in the classroom during or after their traumatic experience? To answer this question, the researcher read and analyzed multiple articles related to dealing with loss and trauma in the classroom. This led to finding strategies, programs, and conversations to deal with the unique and tragic circumstances a student may have. The researcher also observed and had discussions with teachers at an elementary school in Marin County. There are a multitude of strategies to incorporate dealing with traumatic experiences through learning, but there is still more research to be done. Every teacher would benefit from training to how to communicate with their students about challenging events in their lives. Each child is unique and their teacher should know how to best navigate a safe path for them during their education. No child should suffer in silence.
Key Terms: trauma, strategies, mental health, school
Dealing with Loss in the Classroom
Guzman 113, Dominican University of California
School can be challenging enough for most students, who have not experienced the harsh realities of what life brings. For those students who have gone through or who are are going through traumatic experiences, school can be either a safe place or confusing and anxiety-ridden maze. One of the jobs of a teacher is being aware of the mental health of their students. The purpose of my research is to better understand how to handle students that have dealt with traumatic experiences, especially the death of a loved one. How can teachers best accommodate their student’s emotions in the classroom during or after their traumatic experience? To answer this question, the researcher read and analyzed multiple articles related to dealing with loss and trauma in the classroom. This led to finding strategies, programs, and conversations to deal with the unique and tragic circumstances a student may have. The researcher also observed and had discussions with teachers at an elementary school in Marin County. There are a multitude of strategies to incorporate dealing with traumatic experiences through learning, but there is still more research to be done. Every teacher would benefit from training to how to communicate with their students about challenging events in their lives. Each child is unique and their teacher should know how to best navigate a safe path for them during their education. No child should suffer in silence.
Key Terms: trauma, strategies, mental health, school