Trauma-Informed Teaching

Many children experience trauma long before they reach high school. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that two-thirds of students face at least one traumatic event by age 16, which can impact academic performance, behavior, and social emotional learning (SEL). This online professional development course equips educators with trauma-informed strategies that support the brain’s ability to heal, foster resilience, and create supportive classrooms where students feel safe, engaged, and ready to learn.

What is Trauma-Informed Teaching?

Trauma-informed teaching is an approach to education with an understanding of the emotional, social, academic, and mental impacts trauma can have on students. Trauma-Informed teaching begins with an understanding of how trauma can impact the brain, learning, and behavior and how to read the signs that a student has dealt with trauma. Certain teaching strategies encourage trauma-informed teaching such as:

• Putting importance on relationship building
• Taking restorative approaches to discipline
• Giving opportunities to build self-efficacy and self-esteem

What You’ll Learn in this Course

In this online professional development course, teachers will develop practical trauma-informed strategies to support students who have experienced adversity. You’ll study the ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) study, the brain’s response to trauma, and how neuroplasticity allows the brain to heal. The course also explores the effects of trauma on learning and behavior, ways to build safe and supportive classrooms, and practices schools can use to become more trauma-informed.

Beyond theory, you’ll gain ready-to-use tools for:

• Designing trauma-sensitive classroom activities
• Building student resilience and confidence
• Applying restorative approaches to discipline
• Reducing the impact of vicarious trauma on educators

By the end, you’ll have a clear framework for creating classroom environments that help students feel safe, supported, and prepared to succeed.

“This course was excellent for me because I knew very little about trauma, and I truly have a heart to work with students who have suffered from trauma. The books were great, the assignments challenging and applicable. As I head in to the new school year, I feel like I am better prepared as a teacher to give grace and understanding and better prepared to collaborate with my students."
– Educator, South Carolina

Course Topics

• Defining Trauma
• The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study
• The Brain’s Response to Trauma
• Effects of Trauma
• Neuroplasticity & Healing from Trauma
• Trauma-Informed Schools
• Trauma-Sensitive Academic Strategies
• Vicarious Trauma

“This is an informative class about how trauma impacts learning and gives ready-to-use, concrete ways to create a trauma sensitive learning environment in your classroom and school."
– Educator, Pennsylvania

NOTE: Required books must be acquired separately

This course is applicable towards the Social Emotional Learning Certificate.