Color. Carpets. Configurations. The classroom can create a sense of safety, calm, and invitation to learn if designed correctly. Authors and educators Nancy Frey, Douglas Fisher, and Dominique Smith describe their journey to making their school's classrooms trauma-informed and safe, inviting spaces for students.

Trauma-Informed Design in the Classroom

Nancy Frey

Douglas Fisher

Dominique Smith

Trauma-Informed Design in the Classroom (thumbnail)

Disabled pupil smiling at camera in classroom at the elementary school; Shutterstock ID 417926383

shutterstock_417926383

Whole Child

Supported

School climate and culture

Safe

Healthy

Classroom Management

School Culture

A Positive Classroom Climate, Even from a Distance

Online and remote learning

Charts that keep (public) track of whether a student's behavior is in some equivalent of a red (problem), yellow, or green ("well-behaved") zone are ubiquitous in elementary schools. This strategy based on shaming students is due to be retired because (1) it promotes only compliance, not social-emotional learning; (2) charts don't teach self-regulation; and (3) shaming harms students. The authors suggest alternative, relationship-based strategies for dealing with behavior that thwarts learning.

Tear Down Your Behavior Chart!

Lee Ann Jung

student behavior and discipline

Classroom management

Part of a theme issue on "Fighting Educator Burnout."

Create Meaningful Connections

Teacher engagement and motivation

Think SEL Takes Too Much Time? Integrate It!

Think SEL Takes Too Much Time? Integrate It! Thumbnail

Think SEL Takes Too Much Time- Integrate It

Social-emotional learning

Instructional Strategies

Better Behavior Practices (Print Book)

Quick Reference Guides

Print Books

Better Behavior Practices

Better Behavior Practices (Quick Reference Guide)

All Learning Is Social and Emotional: Helping Students Develop Essential Skills for the Classroom and Beyond (Print Book)

Soft Cover

All Learning Is Social and Emotional: Helping Students Develop Essential Skills for the Classroom and Beyond

Integrating SEL into Everyday Instruction (Print Book)

Integrating SEL into Everyday Instruction

Integrating SEL into Everyday Instruction (Quick Reference Guide)

Managing Your Classroom with Restorative Practices (Print Book)

Managing Your Classroom with Restorative Practices

 qrgcover Managing Classroom Restorative Practices Smith Fisher Frey

Managing Your Classroom with Restorative Practices (Quick Reference Guide)

Ian Pumpian

Building Equity: Policies and Practices to Empower All Learners (Print Book)

Building Equity: Policies and Practices to Empower All Learners

Better Than Carrots or Sticks: Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management (Print Book)

Better Than Carrots or Sticks: Restorative Practices for Positive Classroom Management

Dominique Smith

About

Expertise

Articles by Dominique

Trauma-Informed Design in the Classroom

A Positive Classroom Climate, Even from a Distance

Tear Down Your Behavior Chart!

Create Meaningful Connections

Blogs by Dominique

Think SEL Takes Too Much Time? Integrate It!

Videos by Dominique

Building Capacity for SEL Integration

Books by Dominique

Write for ASCD