The Trauma-Informed Music Classroom, Part 1
Childhood trauma is a hidden epidemic plaguing some 35 million children in the United States alone. Thankfully, educators and service providers have started to recognize this epidemic and consider the ways that being trauma-informed can truly help our clients and our students.
Part 1 of this course goes in depth about the topic of trauma: what is it, who is particularly vulnerable to it, and what recent events have caused trauma in all of us.
This course is the first in a 2 -part series. In the second part, you will learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma in both children and adults, as well as the ins and outs of Trauma-Informed Education. You will gain ideas of how to create a Trauma-Informed classroom, and how to create a safe space within your classroom for traumatized students and encourage them to learn.
Lastly, this course offers you some ideas and a couple of sample lesson plans to get your started!
What is Trauma?
How Can We Think About Trauma?
Populations at risk
Clinical Trauma
Recent Public Stresses
What’s Next?
What to Expect From This Course:
There are quite a few ways to engage with this course:
Level 1: The first is to go through each module and access the linked resources. The course is really a curated collection of some of the best resources on trauma and trauma-informed teaching, and you will be able to access articles, podcasts, and videos to give you a great base of knowledge. Each module includes an approximate time-frame to access all the information at this level.
Level 2: If you are particularly interested in the topic, I invite you to explore the “Get More” section of each module. Here you can comment and respond to others through the use of a blog. In order to get the most out of this, I suggest you go first to the Professional Development Blog and tell us where you are located and what your experience is with trauma and trauma-informed teaching. When you comment, make sure to check the box that says “save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.” This will save you time as you continue on in the course.
Level 2 also includes a padlet board. I recommend you create yourself a free account by going HERE. I’ve included Padlet in this course because I think it is a very good resource for k-12 teachers. Padlet allows your students to respond to whatever topic you choose in many ways: writing, attaching a photo, attaching a video, commenting on others’ posts, drawing, making audio responses, etc. It is such a cool way to give kids a chance to show you they are invested in the topic while still allowing creativity!
Level 3: Level 3 “Deep Dive” is designed for teachers who are REALLY interested in getting as much content as possible as well as groups of teachers that are interested in studying the material together. This will include extra readings, podcasts, and or videos that you can use to dive deeper or to use as discussion points in on-site professional development or discussions between colleagues. Level 3 is the reason that this course is available for an entire year. There is a lot here for you to dig into!
This course has been a labor of love for me and is many years in the making. I specifically credit the staff and kids at St Joseph’s Home for Children in Minneapolis, Covenant House in New York, and the 9 Line in New York for teaching me so much– not just about trauma but really about hope and resilience. I also credit my former colleagues at MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis and my former Northside students, who I continue to be proud of every single day.
It is my hope that you find this course useful and inspiring. As Pablo Casals said, ” Perhaps it is music that will save the world.” May we be worthy of his vision.
As you continue on, please contact me with any questions or thoughts. I look forward to hearing from you! –Teresa
Course Information
Course Instructor
One Time Payment
The Trauma-Informed Music Classroom, Part 1 includes approximately 10 hours worth of content.