Trauma Informed Futures Blog - Education and Free Resources
Rachel Levy Rachel Levy

Trauma-Informed Teaching: Supporting Students during the Holidays

The holiday season is often depicted as a time of joy and togetherness, but for many children, it can be a period of increased stress and emotional upheaval. Students from dysfunctional or trauma-impacted homes may experience amplified feelings of loneliness, anxiety, or instability, making it difficult to focus or thrive in school. For educators, employing trauma-informed teaching practices during the holidays can foster a sense of safety, inclusion, and community, offering much-needed support to students who may lack this at home.

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Free Downloads, Classroom Resource, Educator Guide Rachel Levy Free Downloads, Classroom Resource, Educator Guide Rachel Levy

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 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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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.

3D-rendered book cover titled 'Developing Trauma-Informed Teachers: Creating Classrooms that Foster Equity, Resiliency, and Asset-Based Approaches.' Authors listed include Ofelia Castro Schepers, Philip Bernhardt, and Megan Brennan.

Developing Trauma-Informed Teachers: Intentional Partnerships to Create Classrooms That Foster Equity, Resiliency, and Asset-Based Approaches

[May 2025] Co-edited by Resilient Futures founder Megan Brennan, this volume of the series we delves into the heart of educational evolution: Intentional Partnerships to Create Classrooms that Foster Equity, Resiliency, and Asset-Based Approaches.

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

Purple infographic listing behaviors exhibited as trauma responses. Left column: social anxiety, anger, aggression, disassociation, reenactment of traumatic events, shyness, avoidance, bedwetting, loss of appetite. Right column: refusal to attend school/work, shyness, inability to focus (ADD/ADHD), panic attacks, insomnia/nightmares, fighting, self-harming, eating disorders.

In the Press

  • Resilient Futures named parter for MSU's School of Education Master's Program

    The majority of school children have experienced trauma. MSU Denver's School of Education is responding with programs focused on Trauma-Informed Practices and other initiatives that address persistent challenges in education. Resilient Futures is an official partner in delivering Trauma-Informed curriculum.

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  • “Preparing Future Teachers in Trauma-Informed Practices”

    Through our partnership with Metropolitan State University of Denver School of Education, we are taking steps forward in shifting teachers’ mindsets from “What is wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?”

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  • “Community Highlights: Meet Dr. Eleonora Cahill of Resilient Futures”

    An interview with Dr. Eleonora Cahill on behalf of Voyage Denver.

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  • “Who Takes Care of Teachers?”

    Connecting with kids makes for better instructors, but the emotional expense takes a toll.

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  • "Changing the Conversation About Trauma”

    To best help children in need, educators need to change the way they talk about trauma. Here's how MSU Denver’s teacher-prep program in partnership with Resilient Futures is moving the conversation forward and helping teachers understand the language of trauma.

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  • “Extending Mental Health Help to Vulnerable Kids”

    U.S. News & Report takes a closer look at how trauma-informed clinics and schools recognize that families face daunting outside pressures.

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  • “Teachers tackle student trauma”

    Educators learn informed approaches to supporting children in need. The partnership between Resilient Futures, MSU Denver, and National Mental Health Innovation Center brings trauma-informed pedagogy to pre-service teachers. 

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  • "CCSD Schools Highlight Trauma-Informed Practices at Showcase"

    Through our partnership with Cherry Creek School District, we're implementing and building understanding about trauma-informed practices, wellness, and other restorative and equity-focused approaches.

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  • "Trauma & Developmental Disability" Podcast Series ft. Dr. Laura McArthur

    In this THINK+change vodcast/podcast series, Dr. Laura McArthur explains what it means to be a trauma-informed organization and why they can be valuable when supporting people with developmental disabilities.

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  • Resilient Futures helps ECE Students Meet New Colorado State Mandate

    Dr. Rosemarie Allen is an ECE faculty member at MSU Denver. Colorado's Universal Pre-K program will soon have new ways to help students who have been through trauma. Watch Dr. Rosemarie Allen weigh in on the new mandate from the State Department of Early Childhood in her interview with NBC 9 News about trauma-informed training for ECE teachers from Resilient Futures.

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Give to further our Mission

More than ever, our schools and youth-serving communities are in need of trauma-informed education, training, and resources. Your tax-deductible gift will directly fund our program expansion efforts, enabling us to provide trauma-informed training and resources to a greater number of educators, schools, and youth-serving organizations.

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