Behavior is communication. Even though adults often tell children to “use your words,” the reality is that children (and adults, too) often struggle to find the words to describe what they are feeling and what they want or need. This is... Continue reading.
Looking through a Circle of Courage Lens: Why the “other kids” are not the “other kids”
It is bound to happen. In a school, a daycare, a sports practice – maybe even in the middle of a religious service. A child – of any age – will misbehave, perhaps melt down, and even experience a crisis because, for any number of... Continue reading.
Nurturing Yourself: A Trauma-Responsive Approach to Post-Holiday Self-Care by Practicing Resilience
The holiday season, with its festive cheer and joyful gatherings, often marks a time of celebration and togetherness. However, for many individuals, the holidays can also bring about stress, triggering memories of past traumas and exacerbating... Continue reading.
Resilience I Spy
Finding the Circle of Courage in Action Start the New Year with a focus on resilience by teaching your students about the Circle of Courage. Then, challenge them to eye-spy the resilience model’s components in action. Circle of Courage: A... Continue reading.
Intentional Connection Over the Holiday Break
We are quickly approaching the final days of instruction for many before schools close for holiday breaks. A lot of teachers and students are looking forward to a couple weeks of rest, relaxation, and some fun. However, breaks from school for... Continue reading.
Stress and Trauma in Disguise
Jack, a 3rd grader, has difficulty paying attention to the teacher and staying in his seat in the classroom. He often blurts out answers without raising his hand and never stops fidgeting. He looks so much like he has ADHD. Susie, a... Continue reading.
Children’s Grief and Loss
Grief and Loss Grief is the acute pain that accompanies loss. Grief reflects what we love and for this reason, it can feel overwhelming and all-encompassing. Any loss can cause grief. We often think about death when we hear the word grief.... Continue reading.
Giving and Gratitude: Experiences to lower stress and boost happiness in adults and children
Benefits of Giving and Gratitude The holiday season is upon us. During this time, there will be many opportunities to experience giving and gratitude both of which provide many benefits for health and overall well-being. This is essential... Continue reading.
Dysregulation and Behavior: The Roots of Teacher Burnout
In the demanding world of education, teacher burnout has become a critical issue, often rooted in the complex interplay of dysregulation and challenging student behavior. By understanding the underlying factors of these challenges, we aim to offer... Continue reading.
Calming Corners: How to Implement in your Classroom
In the bustling world of education, where students and teachers are constantly navigating through a whirlwind of learning activities, introducing a calming corner can be an effective solution for many student needs. As reported in Starr's Resilient... Continue reading.
Empathy in Schools: The Brain Science and Its Crucial Role in Building Belonging
Empathy, often described as the ability to understand and share the feelings of another, is not just a soft skill. It's deeply rooted in our brain's architecture and plays a pivotal role in trauma-informed, resilience-focused schools. Let's dive... Continue reading.
How to talk to children about traumatic current events and media exposure
Update: In response to the outbreak of violence in Israel and Gaza, Starr Commonwealth has chosen to re-publish this article from January of 2021, previously updated February 25, 2022. Please note that this conflict and region have deep historic,... Continue reading.
How to Create a Trauma-Informed Resilient School | Foster Connections
Foster Connections Students who feel connected to their school are also more likely to have better academic achievement, better school attendance, and stay in school longer. How can you connect to your students? One of the best ways to... Continue reading.
How can you Create a Trauma-Informed Resilient Classroom or School?
Step 1: Focus on Student Resilience What is student resilience?Student Resilience is the ability to achieve positive outcomes—mentally, emotionally, socially, and spiritually despite adversity. To focus on student resilience, start by... Continue reading.
Rupert Gallery
The Growing Miscellany of Intriguing Relics In the early 1950s, what is now considered a treasured landmark on the campus of Starr was initially met as a peculiar gift. The story began when a Detroit attorney contacted Uncle Floyd. His... Continue reading.