Trauma Responsive De-Escalation: Evidence-Based Strategies That Work in the Classroom

Externalizing behaviors in the classroom and their connection to trauma are at the top of most educators' concerns. Children who have experienced trauma may express their distress through acting-out behaviors that can derail instruction and compromise classroom safety. When the underlying cause of acting-out behaviors is trauma, what appears to be intentional disruption of the learning environment may be due to the student feeling a lack of emotional, psychological, or physical safety. Punitive discipline will only make the student feel more anxious and unsafe, intensifying their acting-out behaviors. Learning to utilize trauma responsive de-escalation practices enables educators to understand the underlying causes of acting-out behaviors and consistently provide developmentally supportive responses. This book contains 15 easy-to-follow de-escalation lessons coupled with a comprehensive classroom management planning workbook.