1. The Role of Educators in Addressing Childhood Trauma
Susan E. Craig, Ph.D.

2. Changes in Brain Architecture That Effect Cognition and Learning
Brain adapts to survive unmanageable stress
Adaptions undermine progressive development of complex neural networks
Previously adaptive behaviors interfere
with learning, problem-solving, and
self-regulation

3. Taking a Closer Look Limited Self-regulation
Behavior Driven by Implicit Memories
Language and Memory Problems
Interruption of
Prefrontal Cortex Development
Deficiencies in Executive Function
Interruption of Neural Integration

4. Instruction/Intervention That Can Reverse the Effects of Trauma
Collaborative
Interest Driven
Conceptually Based
Reflective
Committed to Strengthening the Prefrontal Cortex

5. Brain-Based Teaching
Teach students about the structure and functions of their brain
Teach students the skills required to be a thoughtful contributor and active listener in a group
Provide students with frequent opportunities for reflection and self- monitoring

6. INTEGRATING STRATEGIES THAT SUPPORT NEURODEVELOPMENT INTO CLASSROOM PRACTICE
Foster Mindful Awareness
Strengthen Neural Pathways between Children’s Upstairs and Downstairs Brains
Offer Choice-Making across the Day

7. Differentiation in a Trauma-Sensitive School
Formative assessment
Flexible grouping/collaboration
Choice Making
Self-reflection

8. Using PBIS to Help Students Move Beyond the Effects of Trauma
Ecological assessment: anticipating supports
and eliminating triggers
Why consistency matters: language, schedules,
and classroom expectations
The role of redirection
and modeling in shaping behavior

9. A Trauma-Sensitive Approach to Literacy
Left-right hemisphere coordination, pattern recognition, and decoding
Representational thought, concept development, and inferential comprehension
Executive functioning, working memory, and planning

10. A Trauma-Sensitive Approach to Math
How early trauma effects the linguistic, conceptual, and procedural components of math instruction
The role of attending behaviors in
children’s capacity for math automaticity
Math journaling and other
self- reflective techniques to
enhance children’s retention
and understanding of math

11. Self-monitoring and Self-care
Structural prerequisites of team work
The effects of teachers’ social working conditions on student
Managing complex change