EDCE 6240
The Social Emotional Brain
Implications for the PLN Classroom (with a focus on trauma)
Educators who teach with an understanding of the social emotional brain have classrooms that are well managed, have fewer discipline problems, increased student learning and less job stress. Course participants learn how to best reach the explosive child, the disconnected child, the child of trauma and the chronically inattentive child. They explore what the emotional brain teaches us about the best way to structure lessons and build a safe learning community.
Participants consider their students' social/emotional developmental issues and needs at various ages, how gender differences impact learning, ways to lessen anxiety, fear and avoidance and systems of classroom management that align with brain-based research and the PLN frameworks. Participants apply the concepts and strategies, reflect in ongoing journals and develop a final project as they learn about related topics of interest including the biology of emotion and how it impacts learning, self concept and self advocacy. Participants need to purchase the text, Relationship, Responsibility, and Regulation: Trauma-Invested Practices for Fostering Resilient Learners” by Kristin Van Marter Souers, and Pete Hall, ASCD. “
