Fostering Resilient Learners: Strategies for Creating a Trauma-Sensitive Classroom by Kristin Souers & Pete Hall

Author:Kristin Souers & Pete Hall [Souers, Kristin]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Education
ISBN: 9781416621089
Publisher: Association for Supervision & Curriculum Development
Published: 2016-01-26T05:00:00+00:00

The simple message of "Good morning!" is a powerful one for many of us, and it can help set the mood for the day. I love the many variations: "Top o' the mornin' to ya," "Buenos días, amigo!" and even a simple, cheerful "Hello!" The acknowledgment of life and the joy of being seen by someone provide a little ray of sunshine that establishes the tone for everything that follows.

Kristin often mentions that one of the reasons she wanted to collaborate with me was the fact that as a principal, I prioritized the cultivation of meaningful relationships. I made an effort to learn the names of all the students in my building as soon as school started. I wanted to know about them, as students and as young people. With this knowledge, I was able to harness what I call "the power of seven seconds" (Hall, 2011). Think of it this way: every morning, every student who enters the school has a story. It might be a story of hugs and breakfast and toothbrushing, or it might be a story of fitful sleep, an absentee parent, and a fight with a sibling. We don't know these stories, and we can't control what has already happened. But we can control our ability to say, "Good morning!" right off the bat.

The first seven seconds of our interaction with every student in our school should be brimming with enthusiasm, joy, compliments, or some sort of friendly banter. It doesn't take any longer than that to make someone's day, no matter how his or her day began. If we allocate those seven seconds wisely, saying, "Good morning, Jackie, thanks for bringing that sunshine in today. How's your new puppy?" instead of "Excuse me, you need to take your hat off inside, young lady," then we've taken a big step toward starting each youngster's day with a smile.

All it takes to do this is a little heart, a little dedication, and a little willingness to commit to establishing relationships. What follows is a mood enhancer for everyone involved.

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