The Courageous Classroom Creating a Culture of Safety for Students to Learn and Thrive

Help students and educators cope with fear in the classroom with this up-to-date new resource

In The Courageous Classroom: Creating a Culture of Safety for Students to Learn and Thrive, community psychiatrist Dr. Janet Taylor and nationally acclaimed educator, Jed Dearybury deliver a concise and insightful take on the culture of fear in schools around the country. You'll learn about the various ways fear is present in students and educators, practical tools and strategies for educators to cope with fear and anxiety in the classroom, the reality of racism, homophobia and microaggressions and their impact on learning, and how to create a landscape of calm in your classroom.

This important book will show you:

• The difference between fear and anxiety and how to respond to both
• How to create social-emotional learning environments where students feel mentally and physically safe
• Why, despite schools being safer than ever, students and educators fear for their personal safety
• How to manage educator stress, fear, and anxiety in a time of increasing coverage of school shootings

Perfect for K-12 public school educators, Courageous Classrooms will also earn a place in the libraries of educators in training and parents with school-age children who wish to better help children cope with fear.

Dr. Janet Taylor is a Community Psychiatrist, practicing in Florida. Every day, Dr. Taylor helps individuals and their families understand and work through the impact of fear, trauma, and anxiety in their lives so that they can participate effectively at school, in their homes, and in the workplace. She attended the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky for Undergraduate and Medical School and received a Master's of Public Health in Health Promotion/Disease Prevention from Columbia University. She is a frequent contributor to CBS This Morning, and NBC The Today Show and Good Morning America, and wrote her own advice column "Ask Dr. Janet" for Family Circle Magazine. Dr. Taylor has also been featured on three television shows, Celebrity Crime Files, Facing Trauma and a syndicated talk show, The Jeremy Kyle Show.

Jed Dearybury is an nationally acclaimed, educational leader providing quality, hands-on, engaging learning experiences for students and teachers across the country. Jed has been featured in GQ Magazine as Male Leader of the Year, met President Obama as the SC winner of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching. He is the author of another Jossey-Bass title, The Playful Classroom. Currently Jed is working as an educational consultant and an adjunct instructor at 4 colleges and universities across South Carolina.

Introduction 11

Dr. Janet’s Story 13

Jed’s Story 14

What to Expect in this Book 17

1: The Brain’s Fear System 19

Fear is Normal 19

Fear Keeps Us Alive 20

Fear Becomes Courage 23

Fear and Trauma Affects Learning 25

Fear as a Teacher 28

Fear is Paralyzing 30

Fear’s Capacity 32

The Story of Kimmie 34

Let’s Chat 38

Fear is Overcome-able 39

Tips for the Courageous Classroom 40

Learning Principle 40

2: Animals and Fear 42

Animals Can Cause Fear 42

Let’s Chat 44

Animals Survive Because of Fear 45

Animals and Mental Health 48

Animals in the Classroom 50

Tips for the Courageous Classroom 53

Learning Principle 53

3: Fear Outside School 54

Trauma is an Adverse Childhood Experience 54

Trauma and the Brain’s Development 58

Trauma Presenting in Children 60

Trauma as a Student and Educator 61

Let’s Chat 65

Trauma’s Effect on You 66

Take the ACE Questionnaire 67

The Story of Johnnie 69

Let’s Chat 72

Tips for the Courageous Classroom 73

Learning Principle 74

Tips for Dealing with Your Trauma 74

4: Crossing the Threshold into Schools 75

Courage in Spite of Circumstances 75

Courage at The Eagle Academy for Young Men 76

Courage During Car-Line Duty 78

Multi-focal Approach 79

The Story of Mary 81

Let’s Chat 83

Tips for the Courageous Classroom 84

Learning Principle 84

5: Fear Inside School 85

School Shootings 85

School Bullying 91

School Safety 93

School Anti-Bullying Programs 96

Bullying in the Classroom/Supporting Students: Tips for Teachers and Parents 98

Schools and LGBTQ+ Bullying 99

Let’s Chat 102

Tips for the Courageous Classroom 103

A Courageous Mindset 104

6: The Brain and Learning 104

The Impact on the Brain 105

The Brain Needs Time 106

The Brain and Sleep 108

The Brain and Adversity 109

The Brain and the Long-Term Effects of Trauma 110

Let’s Chat 112

The Brain of a Coping Teacher 113

The Brain and Classroom Needs 115

The Brain’s Health 117

Resilience 118

Tips for the Courageous Classroom 120

Learning Principle 120

7: When Teachers are Targeted 120

Aggression Against Teachers 120

A Story of Lawrence 122

Aggression and Teacher Safety? 124

Aggression Defined 126

Aggression and Social Learning 128

Aggression Disclaimer 129

Aggression Management 131

A Story of Tatum 134

Let’s Chat 135

Tips for the Courageous Classroom 136

Learning Principle 136

8: When a Child is/might be in Danger 137

Relationships are Paramount 137

Relationships with Student’s Parents 140

Relationships with Students 140

Relationships and Mental Health 141

A Story of Frankie 143

Let’s Chat 144

Tips for the Courageous Classroom 146

Learning Principle 146

9: Building Courageous Classrooms 146

A Courageous First Day of School 147

A Courageous Man 148

A Courageous Definition and Neurobiology 149

A Courageous Story 150

Let’s Chat 152

A Courageous Choice 153

Tips for the Courageous Classroom 155

Learning Principle 155

10: Creating a Landscape of Calm In the Classroom 156

Acknowledge Diversity 156

Acknowledge the School Environment 157

Acknowledge Physical Spaces 158

Acknowledge Peace and Tranquility 162

Acknowledge Emotions 163

A Story about the Absence of Pride, Comfort, and Safety 163

Let’s Chat 164

Tips for the Courageous Classroom 165

Learning Principle 165

11: Health and Education 166

Obesity and School 166

Stress and School 167

Self-Care and School 169

A Story of Teacher Self-Care 171

Let’s Chat 174

Tips for the Courageous Classroom 175

Learning Principles 176

12: Talking with Parents 177

Approach as a Partner 177

Approach Without Assumptions 178

Approach with Grace 179

A Story About Anne 180

Approach with Care 181

Approach with Respect 182

Approach with Sensitivity 183

Approach with Resources 185

Let’s Chat 187

Learning Principle 188

13: What Now? 188

Let’s Chat 191

Learning Principle 191

Appendix A 192

Appendix B 193

Index

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.