Trauma Informed Futures Blog - Education and Free Resources
Educator Guide, Free Downloads Rachel Levy Educator Guide, Free Downloads Rachel Levy

Free Download: Guide to Neuroception and Childhood Trauma

Understanding how students react to their environment—whether with openness or defensiveness—is critical to creating a trauma-informed classroom. Neuroception refers to the brain’s ability to unconsciously evaluate safety and danger, impacting a child’s emotional and physiological responses. This guide is designed to provide foundational education about neuroception, helping educators understand its intersection with trauma while offering a variety of trauma-informed strategies for creating safe, supportive learning environments.

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Free Download: Building Community in the Classroom: A Guide to Connection Circles

Free Downloadable Guide for Educators: Connection Circles are a research-backed strategy for fostering resilience, and directly support Resilient Futures 3 C’s of Resilience. Through consistent engagement in Connection Circles, educators can deepen relationships, promote healthy communication, and create a classroom community that supports equity, emotional well-being, and academic success.

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Free Download: Creating a “Peace Place” for self-regulation in your classroom

One effective strategy for promoting self-regulation in classrooms of all ages is the creation of a “Peace Place” —a designated space where students can go to decompress, refocus, and regulate their emotions. Get our free downloadable guide to create a Peace Place in your classroom, plus a set of wall posters and printable Peace Place worksheets!

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Educator Guide Rachel Levy Educator Guide Rachel Levy

Free Educator Guide: Creating and Facilitating Peer-to-Peer Support Groups in Secondary Schools

Adolescence is a critical developmental period marked by significant physical, emotional, and social changes. Peer-to-peer support groups offer a structured and safe environment where students can connect with others facing similar experiences. These groups provide an essential outlet for sharing, understanding, and supporting one another, fostering a sense of belonging and community.

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Free Downloads, Classroom Resource Rachel Levy Free Downloads, Classroom Resource Rachel Levy

Free Download: Trauma-Informed Scavenger Hunts for Educators

It's never too early to introduce the foundation of trauma-informed practices, and doing so can set a positive tone for the school year. At Resilient Futures, we've created a set of three versatile Scavenger Hunt games designed for early childhood and elementary school educators. These games are not only fun but also essential tools for introducing trauma-informed practices in the classroom.

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Free Downloads, Classroom Resource Rachel Levy Free Downloads, Classroom Resource Rachel Levy

Free Download: SEL & Emotional Literacy: Teaching Emotions and Body Sensations

One foundational aspect of emotional intelligence is the ability to name and identify feelings—both mental emotions and those that arise as body sensations. Understanding and normalizing emotions, and being able to articulate them, is essential for healthy development. This free downloadable will help beginners understand these concepts through tools, activities, and reflections.

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Free Downloads, Classroom Resource Rachel Levy Free Downloads, Classroom Resource Rachel Levy

Free Download: Resilient Futures Mindfulness Breaks for the Classroom and beyond

Introducing Mindfulness Practices into the classroom environment is not just about fostering a moment of peace amidst the chaos; it's about equipping students and educators alike with powerful tools for navigating the complexities of modern education and beyond. Download our free Guide of Mindfulness Breaks in your classroom or community setting today.

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Free Downloads, Classroom Resource Megan Brennan Free Downloads, Classroom Resource Megan Brennan

Free Download: Creating a “Peace Place”: Fostering Self-Regulation in Students of All Ages

In today's fast-paced and often overwhelming world, the ability to self-regulate emotions and manage stress is more important than ever. For children and adolescents, learning these skills is essential not only for academic success but also for overall well-being. One effective strategy for promoting self-regulation in classrooms of all ages is the creation of a “Peace Place” —a designated space where students can go to decompress, refocus, and regulate their emotions.

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Developing Trauma-Informed Teachers

An Educational Book Series from Resilient Futures

Developing Trauma-Informed Teachers: Creating Classrooms that Foster Equity, Resiliency, and Asset-Based Approaches

[July 2022] Co-edited by Resilient Futures founder Megan Brennan, this volume of the series Contemporary Perspectives on Developing Trauma-Informed Teachers provides reflections, examples, and implementation guidance for the innovative and important ways educators develop and implement trauma-informed practices across their programs, instituting broader curricular shifts to incorporate trauma-informed practices.

Developing Trauma-Informed Teachers: Creating Classrooms That Foster Equity, Resiliency, and Asset-Based Approaches: Research Findings From the Field

[January 2023] Co-edited by Resilient Futures founder Megan Brennan, this volume of the series was driven by a deep desire to ensure that teacher candidates are thoughtfully prepared to more fully address students’ needs and create classroom environments that are safe for students and teachers.

Childhood Trauma:

An event(s) that a child finds overwhelmingly distressing or emotionally painful, often resulting in lasting mental and physical effects.

Many think of trauma as a single life-changing event, but more commonly trauma manifests as a series of events or patterns of abusive or neglectful behaviors that compound over time.

Understanding Childhood Trauma

In the Press

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