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Danielle Theis Consulting

Support for children impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

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How Do I Respond?

How to Handle an Aggressive Child in the Classroom

How Do I Respond to Children Impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)?

Many of our educators have had some training on ACEs. This study does an excellent job of helping educators understand the long-term implications of trauma. We understand how and why trauma impacts children. In addition, we understand that without responsive systems, interventions, and interactions, the long term impact of trauma on a child has tremendous costly implications to the individual, their family, and society.  A frequent question from educators is “so what do I do about it?” Educators want to help; they want to bring children forward. That is why they became educators. They have to be trained in very specific techniques and strategies that assist children who have been traumatized. It is not enough just to know that trauma has impact, we understand that. It is not enough to know about the limbic system and that the flight, fight, freeze response exists, we understand that.  We have to know how we position ourselves to be an effective responder, and implement systems that assist children impacted by trauma.

How Do I Respond to Explosive Behavior?

The best thing adults can do around children that dysregulate easily is be masterful in the management of your own emotional state and create a culture of calm.   One must ensure that their face or body does not actually reinforce dysregulation.  Only seven percent of communication is words.  What remains is nonverbals such as the look on our face and the tone of our voice. When children are dysregulated at a high level, and operating within the limbic system of their brain, we must keep in mind that the limbic system of the brain has no language.  Therefore, children are reading nonverbals and will respond to the definition they give to what they see.  Adults have to be very purposeful in their ability to manage what a child sees.  In addition, we must maintain an awareness of who else is observing the situation.  As the manager of the space, adults need to show other students that the adult can manage the situation, and the adult can manage their own emotions.  We must model the skills we want to teach so kids can observe and practice.

What About the Impact on the Other Kids?

When dysregulated children learn to regulate their emotions, it helps all children. It is hard for other kids to see children that struggle to regulate their emotions or their physicality. Sometimes our children are exposed to big displays of behavior that are hard to watch, or hear, or be around.  Kids who see these sorts of things from other children want that child to be okay. They do not want them to experience what they are experiencing. They want them to feel better. Kids understand that there are adults in schools whose roles are different from classroom staff, that some adults help kids outside of the classroom, and that is okay. Teachers can learn to normalize through language that does not shame or blame children that struggle. The teachers understand that they need to learn a new set of skills and that is what schools do. We teach kids new skills.

For more information on Teach to Heal, please click here to contact Danielle Theis Consulting.

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I found it incredibly helpful to see how each intervention tied into a primary emotion for the student which in turn helped to guide me in how I should be addressing that student. I also appreciated learning some of the foundations which made gaining understanding of the philosophy and procedures easier. LSCI training will make me take a closer look at my interactions with students in crisis. I will reflect on the underlying reasons for the crisis and determine how I can best address those reasons and hopefully facilitate insight and skills for the student to access in the future.

Behavior Interventionist

I work as a behavioral dean of students and see myself using them daily with students to de-escalate situations.

Dean of Students

I think I will also try to be more mindful of the words I choose to use, specifically paying more attention to making validating responses rather than the first thing that comes to mind as a common response.

General Education Teacher

It is exciting to think about how this information can really be used as an intervention tool to teach students the skills they are lacking. So often we miss out on the importance of teaching the skill versus putting a band aid on the situation in the moment. Communication upfront with staff will be important to help define roles and responsibilities and to state our purpose behind this work. I will need to be strategic in thinking about how we all build a system’s picture for how this will impact our building and practices.

High School Principal

I feel like I finally understand why we aren’t going straight to consequences because growing up there was always a consequence. I do like the conflict cycle because that gives me a better understanding of where the student is coming from.

Paraprofessional

I see myself using this information and skills mostly in the way I interact with students in their moments of dis-regulation. I have new verbiage in what students may be experiencing based on conversation and new skills on how to work with that. I also want to use this information in being more specific with the needs of the student. Now that I have a better picture of what students may be feeling or thinking, I have new skills/tools to help that issue specifically.

Behavior Interventionist

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Trauma Responsive Schools

Trauma Responsive Schools

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Prevent School Violence

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Compliance Vs New Skills

Compliance Vs New Skills

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Boy screaming

How Do I Respond?

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Educators know, when this population
is successful, all kids are successful.

Contact Danielle

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Teach To HealDanielle provides trainings and consultative services to support children impacted by Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and the adults who serve them, in our schools and communities.

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