Week 2 of the new school year and many teachers will be struggling with a new class. Are there certain individuals in your class whose behaviour is already challenging? (There may also be those going through the ‘honeymoon period’ and you’re wondering what all the fuss was from their previous teachers!)
This is a tricky time in the school year when children’s ‘cups of need’ are low. The need to feel connected to adults and children around them, feeling heard and understood, feeling comfortable with their surroundings; these are all feelings we can relate to. Can you remember when you started a new job where you don’t yet feel you belong, you don’t know what others feel about you and who is there to support you? For children who find difficulty regulating, these can all trigger big emotional reactions. So, what can you do about it? Spend the next week creating ways to connect with the child. Try having lunch with them or asking them to come in earlier in the morning to do a job for you. Get to know them and help them get to know you as a person, not just their teacher. Your time is precious in school but time spent now will pay huge dividends later.
#BeTraumaAware #Traumainformed