Want a NOOK? Explore Now
September 11. . . Virginia Tech . . . Columbine . . . Hurricane Katrina . . . Traumatic events with long lasting consequences. Lives are upended, safety is threatened, and all are forced to find a way to adapt to a new normal. Educators in schools where students have experienced trauma face difficult challenges, for how are they to promote academic growth and attainment of educational goals in such a situation? Reclaiming School in the Aftermath of Trauma offers wisdom born of experience as well as insights acquired through years of study. Authors contributing to this text share their experiences in the aftermath of tragedy and describe helpful approaches for reclaiming school after trauma interrupts the lives of students, faculty, and school communities.
SECTION ONE: Understanding Trauma
• Chapter 1: Trauma comes to school
• Chapter 2: Trauma’s effect on the brain: An overview for educators
• Chapter 3: Pretending to do school
• SECTION TWO: Learning from the experience
• Chapter 4: Hurricane Katrina and the Children of Louisiana
• Chapter 5: Inner-city Charter School in post-Katrina New Orleans: A Principal’s perspective
• Chapter 6: Reclaiming the New York Law School
• Chapter 7: Who’s looking out for the students?
• Chapter 8: “You don’t learn these things in principal school”
• Chapter 9: Not here, not at Columbine
• Chapter 10: Aftercare support for school personnel after a school shooting in Finland
• Chapter 11: Burned into memory: Remnants of bullying and personal victimization
• Chapter 12: Community – just getting through this: Bailey, Colorado
• SECTION THREE: Putting the pain to work
• Chapter 13: Recommendations & implications
• Chapter 14: Resources
zwillingwriter
Posted August 12, 2012
I highly recommend Dr. Carolyn Mears' book: Reclaiming School in the Aftermath of Trauma: Advice Based on Experience. As a 15-year professional educator and researcher of youth violence, I can firmly say that this book makes an effective case for empathetic and compassionate teaching and leading. Mears' book is filled with articles/writings from individuals close to national tragedies, including the Columbine shooting, 9-11, Hurricane Katrina, etc. Mears went to the real source of advice; educators who lived through horrific conditions with their students and communities and somehow emerged to effectively share their pain and experiences. Furthermore, they share their passion for ensuring that communities and school officials remember that life is different after a tragedy, and leadership must be different. Because Mears is a Columbine parent whose own son survived the tragedy, one might imagine that the book keeps a narrow focus on shootings or similar tragedies, but that is absolutely not the case. In fact, the book begins with a broad explanation of the "aftermath" of trauma. The author explains that students experience trauma on a regular basis. It does not take a shooting to result in PTSD or a need for mental health interventions. Students and their families can be traumatized by regular community violence, events they see on t.v., or other circumstances separated from the daily life of schooling. But schooling is a continuous process, and the real-world trauma of youth makes its way to the classroom on a regular basis. Mears collects the advice of those who have survived trauma to explain that the road back is not easy. The road back to "normalcy" is complicated by educators rarely trained in traumatic response. Mears writes: "Educators, however, are generally not given any preparation for working with students who are suffering from traumatic stress....educators are rarely taught how to adjust their instructional practice to meet the special needs that arise" (p.4). So true! This book is a must-read for safe school directors, school leaders, and post-secondary institutions training our future educators. Trauma and tragedy are real, and we will never find school buildings devoid of youth facing trauma or tragedy. As a result, we must empower ourselves to know how to approach this educational barrier with compassion and credibility. Mears initiates the conversation that must surround this process. Great book!! Lori D. Brown, Ed.D
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.KarenMasullo
Posted July 20, 2012
Carolyn Mears has approached a delicate subject with sensitivity and care, in a way that allows us to grieve with the subjects, while learning about the complexities of trauma and traumatic events. Sadly, we are learning about our reactions and responses in real-time. I firmly believe that every school, every business, every household, every person should have a copy of this book. Carolyn allows us an intimate view into not only the experiences of those who have lived through and with these events, but into her own experience as a Columbine Mom and community member as well. Please read this book. Then pass it on.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.westy1
Posted June 5, 2012
This book needs to be on every parent, teachers, and school administrators book shelf. This book can change lives and the responses we make in our lives. well written, clean information.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
September 11. . . Virginia Tech . . . Columbine . . . Hurricane Katrina . . . Traumatic events with long lasting consequences. Lives are upended, safety is threatened, and all are forced to find a way to adapt to a new normal. Educators in schools where students have experienced trauma face difficult challenges, for how are they to promote academic growth and attainment of educational goals in such a situation? Reclaiming School in the Aftermath of Trauma offers wisdom born of experience as well as insights ...