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Making Students Feel Safe

Elementary students raising their hands while seated on the ground in front of a teacher
February 2018 | Edutopia
Elementary students raising their hands while seated on the ground in front of a teacher

This Edutopia video features Fall-Hamilton Elementary in Nashville, Tennessee, which has adopted a schoolwide trauma-informed approach to ensure healthy student-staff relationships and student success. Schoolwide practices include a check-in and check-out system, peace corners in each classroom, and a leadership class for all students. Teachers are encouraged to reach out to another colleague when they need to step out of the room for a mental health break. Since adopting this trauma-informed approach, behavior infractions have decreased by 76%, and 98% of students reported feeling that there was a school-based adult who cared about them.