This article explains Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and how it may affect students in a classroom. Teachers are faced with more challenges than ever trying to meet the needs of all learners in the classroom. One of these challenges is helping students deal with the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Teachers and school personnel need to be aware of the signs of PTSD and learn how to support students who are experiencing it in their classrooms.
It is important for teachers to realize children will experience symptoms differently than adults and teens can exhibit symptoms of either children or adults. Some signs that a child may be experiencing PTSD are: separation anxiety, clinging behaviours, withdrawal, self-doubt, change in behaviour at school, problems with concentration and a reluctance to return to school. (Grosse, S.J., 2001 p. 5) Adolescents may display some of the symptoms listed about but may also have more of the adult symptoms which include but are not limited to: difficulty sleeping, detachment, distressing thoughts, flashbacks, unable to have loving feelings, anger or irritability. (Grosse, S.J., 2001, p. 5, PsychiatryOnline, p. 18)
An important step in preventing PTSD occurs prior to any exposure to a traumatic event. Educators can help by teaching skills in the classroom that prepare children to deal with such an incident. Schools in New Brunswick, as well as other parts of the world, teach
students how to respond to certain situations. Students are familiar with fire drill procedures,“Secure the building” and other safety procedures in case of an emergency. By practicing these routines and making students familiar with the steps involved in dealing with a crisis, children better process and cope with a real life event if or when it occurs. Children should also be prepared to “cope with trauma by understanding the nature of trauma” and learn “how to mitigate the after-effects of trauma” (Grosse, S.J., 2001, p, 4)
Children spend many hours at school and therefore, teachers can have an influence on the aftermath of trauma through the environment they create in their classroom. In today’s world, traumatic events have become more prevalent and have worldwide implications due to the increase in media coverage of such events. Children and youth are exposed to these situations both first-hand like the Sandy Hook shooting and Hurricane Katrina and second hand via the media. Its effects can be felt in most classrooms.“Trauma has the potential to undermine both the educational and personal achievement of students.” (Kruczek and Salsman, 2006) Teachers today must be prepared to teach and help these students in their classrooms
We have several students in our school who have been diagnosed with PTSD. I believe if the classroom teacher is more aware of the symptoms and difficulties PTSD createsfor that student both in the school and in the classroom, it may be easier for them to feel compassion and find ways to accomodate those students in the classroom. One student I thought of when reading this article was diagnosed with PTSD as well as depression. He struggles academically in school with reading and attention. He has since had issues with attendance at school, severe depression, substance abuse and anxiety. He struggles to cope with minor incidents that occur in his daily life and will often "shut down" and withdraw from his small social group. I believe that if teachers are more aware of the impact the PTSD has on students they will understand the struggles these children face in the classroom.
It is important for teachers to realize children will experience symptoms differently than adults and teens can exhibit symptoms of either children or adults. Some signs that a child may be experiencing PTSD are: separation anxiety, clinging behaviours, withdrawal, self-doubt, change in behaviour at school, problems with concentration and a reluctance to return to school. (Grosse, S.J., 2001 p. 5) Adolescents may display some of the symptoms listed about but may also have more of the adult symptoms which include but are not limited to: difficulty sleeping, detachment, distressing thoughts, flashbacks, unable to have loving feelings, anger or irritability. (Grosse, S.J., 2001, p. 5, PsychiatryOnline, p. 18)
An important step in preventing PTSD occurs prior to any exposure to a traumatic event. Educators can help by teaching skills in the classroom that prepare children to deal with such an incident. Schools in New Brunswick, as well as other parts of the world, teach
students how to respond to certain situations. Students are familiar with fire drill procedures,“Secure the building” and other safety procedures in case of an emergency. By practicing these routines and making students familiar with the steps involved in dealing with a crisis, children better process and cope with a real life event if or when it occurs. Children should also be prepared to “cope with trauma by understanding the nature of trauma” and learn “how to mitigate the after-effects of trauma” (Grosse, S.J., 2001, p, 4)
Children spend many hours at school and therefore, teachers can have an influence on the aftermath of trauma through the environment they create in their classroom. In today’s world, traumatic events have become more prevalent and have worldwide implications due to the increase in media coverage of such events. Children and youth are exposed to these situations both first-hand like the Sandy Hook shooting and Hurricane Katrina and second hand via the media. Its effects can be felt in most classrooms.“Trauma has the potential to undermine both the educational and personal achievement of students.” (Kruczek and Salsman, 2006) Teachers today must be prepared to teach and help these students in their classrooms
We have several students in our school who have been diagnosed with PTSD. I believe if the classroom teacher is more aware of the symptoms and difficulties PTSD createsfor that student both in the school and in the classroom, it may be easier for them to feel compassion and find ways to accomodate those students in the classroom. One student I thought of when reading this article was diagnosed with PTSD as well as depression. He struggles academically in school with reading and attention. He has since had issues with attendance at school, severe depression, substance abuse and anxiety. He struggles to cope with minor incidents that occur in his daily life and will often "shut down" and withdraw from his small social group. I believe that if teachers are more aware of the impact the PTSD has on students they will understand the struggles these children face in the classroom.
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