Trauma SMART schools are student centred and recognise that emotional intelligence and social-emotional skills are the foundation for improved academic outcomes and resiliency. Evidence shows that if a brain has been affected by early trauma or prolonged stress, particularly during the sensitive periods of development, the wiring of the brain and nervous system can be affected. This faulty wiring of the lower subcortical parts of the brain drives behaviour, the ability to navigate relationships, the ability to learn and remember, the ability to focus and pay attention, responses to stress and self-concept.
Building Better Brains Australia’s Trauma Smart Classrooms Program aims to change these statistics through evidenced based education and support for the entire school community – teachers, parents and the children themselves. We are stronger together!
The program will cover essential neuroscience and provide practical classroom, home and personal strategies to help educate the community and help it recover from trauma so that we can all build better brains for this next generation of children.
Core teacher training programs including classroom management and pedagogical strategies:
Brain and Behaviour – essential neuroscience and interpersonal neurobiology for the classroom. Understand why behaviour is a symptom of a dysregulated nervous system and explore a range of evidenced based strategies that help improve safety, connection and regulation in the classroom.
The Elephant in the Room: How trauma affects brain, behaviour, learning, nervous system regulation and relationships
Building Mindful Classrooms and Essential Self-Care for Teachers – the adults are the physiological anchor for the children in the room and to do the essential support work with children of trauma. To do this work sustainably, educators need to prioritise their own self-care
These workshops are available as self directed online training for your community or as in person live workshops (or via zoom).
Get in touch for more information or to register your interest!
Learn how to facilitate Nurture groups to help support the emotional-social growth of students at your school. Nurture groups are based on Theraplay principles (a trauma informed, attachment- based, directive form of play therapy), creative arts therapy, Bruce Perry’s work on rhythmic brainstem regulation, mindfulness and behavioral techniques.
Nurture Groups incorporate:
Sensory regulation activities
Mindfulness
Music and rhythm
Theraplay group games
Team building activities
Group and family play therapy activities
Confidence and self esteem building
Creative arts therapy – movement, regulation, art and drama expression activities
Social skills development and support
Emotional intelligence building
Emotional Regulation skill practice
The course will cover:
The neurobiology of play involved in rewiring the brain, nervous system and relationships
Engaging whole brain learning through play
Resiliency, play and building emotionally intelligent brains
How to structure Nurture Group sessions – Rules and Rituals, running order, group characteristics
Ideas for goal setting for group success
List of supplies, resources and requirements
How to build a toolbox of targeted therapeutic activities – experiential learning through play, song, rhythm and fun!
Templates: Introduction letters, lesson plans and assessments
These workshops are available as self directed online training for your community or as in person live workshops (or via zoom).
Get in touch for more information or to register your interest!
Learn how to establish a great rapport with your students, find your personal power to teach with confidence without the ‘teacher’s mask’ and create classes that sustain you rather than drain you. We will show you hands on pedagogical techniques that empower students to grow.
Presented by Tony Vallance, Australian Educator of the year (2019)
As a ConnectED Classrooms trained teacher you will be able to:
Quickly establish a strong rapport with your students
Gain confidence in your strengths as a teacher and own your space with your students.
Learn to apply collaborative learning strategies with differentiated roles for students to thrive within.
Learn passive and active monitoring strategies that give you feedback both from a wellbeing based and academic growth perspective.
Find ways to engage and empower your students with learning so you can truly become the ‘guide on the side’ who leads from behind.
These workshops are available as self directed online training for your staff or as in person live workshops (or via zoom).
Get in touch for more information or to register your interest!
Want to discover how to teach with passion, power and sustainability? Learn practical personal and pedagogical techniques. Presented by Tony Vallance, Australian Educator of the year (2019)
Tony shares his tricks for filtering through ‘busy work’ not related to the core business of teaching. He will show you how to grow your personal and professional capacity to teach with confidence, compassion and courage. Learn how to access your pedagogical power animal by tapping into your key areas of passion. Find out how to lead your students from behind and establish a strong rapport that will turn a draining class into a sustaining class.
Take your job from career to calling and make this amazing vocation the best it can be!
Learn how to summarise your unique skills and tailor your techniques directly to them
Learn practical techniques to establish rapport and promote connection before correction.
Learn how to deal with professional pressure in a sustainable way.
Learn how to fill your cup and prioritise personal capacity growth from a personal before professional perspective.
Gain knowledge of student brain and behaviour so your can increase your empathy and solidify your student connection.
Learn how to harness the power of role differentiated collaborative learning so your students can take ownership of their learning as you become a leader from behind.
Learn how to deal with challenging students with practical, proven techniques that will serve to de-escalate, re-engage and motivate them.
Learn the power of honesty and vulnerability so you can take the teachers mask off and be the real you with students so they can be the real them.
Get in touch for more information or to register your interest!