The ReConnection Room will support our school-wide initiative to bring trauma-informed practices to our school community. Many of my students have histories of trauma, including forced migration, loss/separation, economic oppression, and community violence. This chronic exposure to stress sets the nervous system on high alert, preventing the optimal conditions for learning.
In the ReConnection Room, students will be able to take a "resiliency break" and use one of these calming/alerting tools while connecting with a trusted adult.
I am starting from scratch- an empty classroom- and first need to create a smaller space so that small children feel contained and safe. Traditional classrooms can be overwhelm the nervous systems of children with toxic or traumatic stress. Items such as filters for the harsh fluorescent lights, adjustable floor lamps, and child-sized furniture, such as the bean bag chairs, provide my students a calming space to regulate. Many students live in close quarters with several people and they rarely have a quite space to themselves. In the ReConnection Room, they can choose from calming tools, such as the weighted stuffed animals, nature music, or rocking chair, or they may need alerting tools, such as some of the yoga cards or fidget toys.
With practice, students will learn safe ways to express and cope with feelings so that they can return to the classroom to learn. Items such as the animal timers will help me create structure and limits for use of the room. The books and games requested would help students learn to identify and safely communicate their feelings and needs. I will also host parenting classes in this room, sharing the tools and skills with parents so that they can practice at home.
About my class
The ReConnection Room will support our school-wide initiative to bring trauma-informed practices to our school community. Many of my students have histories of trauma, including forced migration, loss/separation, economic oppression, and community violence. This chronic exposure to stress sets the nervous system on high alert, preventing the optimal conditions for learning.
In the ReConnection Room, students will be able to take a "resiliency break" and use one of these calming/alerting tools while connecting with a trusted adult.
I am starting from scratch- an empty classroom- and first need to create a smaller space so that small children feel contained and safe. Traditional classrooms can be overwhelm the nervous systems of children with toxic or traumatic stress. Items such as filters for the harsh fluorescent lights, adjustable floor lamps, and child-sized furniture, such as the bean bag chairs, provide my students a calming space to regulate. Many students live in close quarters with several people and they rarely have a quite space to themselves. In the ReConnection Room, they can choose from calming tools, such as the weighted stuffed animals, nature music, or rocking chair, or they may need alerting tools, such as some of the yoga cards or fidget toys.
With practice, students will learn safe ways to express and cope with feelings so that they can return to the classroom to learn. Items such as the animal timers will help me create structure and limits for use of the room. The books and games requested would help students learn to identify and safely communicate their feelings and needs. I will also host parenting classes in this room, sharing the tools and skills with parents so that they can practice at home.
Read more