Transforming PBIS with the Circle of Courage

Transforming PBIS with the Circle of Courage

Close your eyes for just a moment and picture this: a school where every staff and student steps into a world of warmth and possibility, feeling truly seen and ready to thrive—this is the magic that happens when we weave Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) with a trauma-informed approach. As educators and educational leaders,…

Five Ways to Create Trauma-Sensitive Spaces for Young Learners

Five Ways to Create Trauma-Sensitive Spaces for Young Learners

Picture this: you walk into a classroom that feels like a warm hug, where every corner whispers, “You belong here.” The walls aren’t just covered with posters but with reminders that every child is seen, heard, and supported. This is the heart of a trauma-informed classroom—a space where students learn, heal, and grow. Let’s dive…

students in classroom doing yoga

Five Ways to Create Trauma-Sensitive Spaces for Young Learners

Hello, amazing educators! Are you ready to create a classroom that feels like a warm hug? As early childhood teachers, you hold the magic wand that can transform a child’s world. Embracing the philosophy of Starr Commonwealth’s 10 Steps to Create a Trauma-Informed Resilient School, let’s explore practical, fun, and inspiring ways to make your…

Nurturing Resilience Through Play in Early Childhood

Nurturing Resilience Through Play in Early Childhood

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.” Kay Redfield Jamison Imagine a garden where every child is a budding flower, each needing care and attention to blossom fully. Throughout the early childhood journey, we often find ourselves navigating the delicate task of fostering resilience in…

How to Decrease Trauma Symptoms and Reactions of Anxiety

How to Decrease Trauma Symptoms and Reactions of Anxiety

Healing from Within We know that trauma is a profound and often distressing experience that can profoundly impact your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The journey from trauma to healing is intricate, involving a complex interplay between the mind and body. Recognizing this connection is vital to fostering effective healing and recovery. Understanding Trauma and…

Understanding Stress: Empowering Resilience through Mindfulness

Understanding Stress: Empowering Resilience through Mindfulness

Throughout the beautiful journey of the human experience, stress emerges as a multifaceted phenomenon, weaving its threads through the fabric of our lives in various forms. From the everyday pressures of work and relationships to the deeper, more enduring effects of things like adverse childhood experiences, stress manifests in different ways, each with its own…

putting it all together

Prioritizing Mental Wellness in Education: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Empower Teachers and Students

As we embrace Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s crucial to reflect on the invaluable role educators play in shaping the emotional and social well-being of our communities. Now more than ever, the importance of prioritizing mental wellness in schools cannot be overstated. At Starr Commonwealth, we believe in the power of a trauma-informed approach to…

Cultivating Resilience: A Blueprint for Educators

Cultivating Resilience: A Blueprint for Educators

In the bustling corridors of our schools, amidst the laughter and the learning, there exists a silent yet powerful force: resilience. The inner strength that propels our students forward, even in the face of adversity. As educators, we have the privilege and the responsibility to nurture this resilience, to foster environments where every child can…

Cultivating Belonging: Navigating Exclusion with Restorative and Resilience-Focused Approach to Discipline

Cultivating Belonging: Navigating Exclusion with Restorative and Resilience-Focused Approach to Discipline

Hello, fellow educators and guardians of compassionate learning! Today, we embark on a transformative journey towards redefining disciplinary practices through the lens of restorative justice and resilience-focused mindset. Prepare to be inspired as we delve into a realm where exclusion, as a last resort in response to behavior, is reframed as an opportunity for connection,…

Sparking Joy: Transformative Time-In Strategies for Resilience-Focused Learning Spaces

Sparking Joy: Transformative Time-In Strategies for Resilience-Focused Learning Spaces

In the vibrant realm of shaping young minds, where every moment holds the potential for transformation, we often encounter challenges that disrupt the journey of growth and learning. However, amidst these moments lies an opportunity to transform behaviors and lives. At Starr Commonwealth, we believe in the power of joy, resilience, and trauma-informed care to…

Embracing Joyful Learning: Prioritizing Play and Empathy in Secondary Classrooms

Embracing Joyful Learning: Prioritizing Play and Empathy in Secondary Classrooms

In the vibrant tapestry of education, every thread contributes to the rich fabric of student growth and empowerment. As we navigate the complex landscape of trauma-informed teaching, let’s weave in the colorful threads of play, brain breaks, and sensory-based interventions, especially in our secondary classrooms. Because who said learning can’t be a joyful adventure? Spark…

Cultivating Belonging: Alternatives to Suspensions for Nurturing School Communities

Cultivating Belonging: Alternatives to Suspensions for Nurturing School Communities

One of the most common misconceptions about schools becoming trauma-informed and resilience-focused is that the approach allows space for excused behaviors and creates opportunities for students to escape the consequences of their choices. However, this could not be further from the reality of the philosophy and fundamental pillars of creating a trauma-responsive disciplinary system. Conventional…

Building Resilient School Communities: Making PBIS Trauma-Informed and Resilience-Focused

Building Resilient School Communities: Making PBIS Trauma-Informed and Resilience-Focused

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) has been widely adopted in schools as a framework for promoting positive behavior and preventing disciplinary issues. However, as our understanding of trauma and its impacts on learning and behavior evolves, it becomes increasingly clear that as we implement PBIS in our schools, we must also adapt some the…

Fostering Healing Communities: Implementing Trauma-Responsive Restorative Practices in Schools

Fostering Healing Communities: Implementing Trauma-Responsive Restorative Practices in Schools

Establishing safe and nurturing environments is paramount for the comprehensive growth of students. Educators across the world are working diligently to identify effective strategies to strengthen skills of empathy, conflict resolution, and interpersonal communication within their students. Acknowledging the widespread occurrence of trauma and its influence on the learning process, educators are progressively embracing Restorative…