Traumatic Events and Learning - School Counselor Pathway [Read]

Trauma Impacts Learning

While the following content may be difficult and may cause triggers based on personal experiences, please understand the focus of this content is about our students and how we, as educators, can support them. 

The purpose of the following information is to offer an introduction to trauma, share the prevalence of students who are exposed to trauma, and provide foundational knowledge to what we, as educators, leaders, and school personnel can do to provide trauma informed learning environments. Please allow yourself grace to pause the content and go at your own pace. The students that we serve experience trauma each and every day. The purpose and the goal is to utilize this information to support students experiencing and/or exposed to trauma.

*** Please note that these are introductory and foundational resources and you are encouraged to reach out to your school based mental health practitioner (counselor, school psychologist, mental health specialist, social worker ) for a deeper understanding and application of trauma, and trauma informed practices in schools. 

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Source:  Treatment and Services Adaptation Center Links to an external site.

Symptoms resulting from trauma can directly impact a student’s ability to learn. Students might be distracted by intrusive thoughts about the event that prevents them from paying attention in class, studying, or doing well on a test. Exposure to violence can lead to decreased IQ and reading ability. Some students might avoid going to school altogether. 

Exposure to violence and other traumatic events can disrupt youths’ ability to relate to others and to successfully manage emotions. In the classroom setting, this can lead to poor behavior, which can result in reduced instructional time, suspensions, and expulsions. Long-term results of exposure to violence include lower grade point averages and reduced graduation rates, along with increased incidences of teen pregnancy, joblessness, and poverty.