The Trauma-Sensitive Teacher

Diane was excited about the holiday celebration she had prepared for her students. She’d spent weeks selecting a special puppet for each of her 2nd graders. Now, as she watched Chris mercilessly cut the plumage off the parrot puppet she thought he’d love, Diane felt herself blush with embarrassment and frustration. But she quickly caught herself. She recognized Chris’s behavior as a reenactment of his past traumatic experiences with caregivers. He was in foster care because his mother was hospitalized for depression. In earlier years, Chris’s mother was often unable to care for Chris and his brothers. Years of neglect and the eventual separation from his mother and siblings left him angry and distrustful.

Knowing Chris’s history gave Diane the objectivity she needed to avoid personalizing his behaviors. Instead of reacting to his behavior, she directed her attention to the other children and got them started on a new activity. Chris soon stopped cutting and put his head in his hands. Diane sat beside him and quietly asked if he’d like to sit in the rocking chair until he was feeling better. He nodded, and she walked him to the chair. She placed her hand on his shoulder, smiled, and told him that when he was ready, she’d help him fix the puppet. When Chris nodded and started rocking, Diane knew that she’d made the right decision in offering him support. Her compassionate response helped Chris return to a safer, more neutral psychological space, while at the same time reinforcing her relationship with him.