Resources for Educators

Resources by the Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI)

• Find books, webinars, podcasts, and more to support helpers, including a resource on trauma-informed schools. They also have many additional paid resources and trainings. 

How to address the effects of trauma in the English language classroom (Article) by the British Council

• "This article looks at working with students who have suffered trauma and suggests ways in which teachers can address this in the English language classroom."

De-escalation Strategies for Teachers from a Trauma-Informed Lens by Julie Kuntz

• “Our “De-escalation Strategies from a Trauma-Informed Lens” graphic provides educators with information about the brain science behind de-escalation, along with bite-sized tips for supporting a dysregulated student in crisis.”

Strategies for De-escalating Student Behavior in the Classroom by the Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS)

• “This practice brief provides practical, research-based strategies educators can use to de-escalate challenging student behavior in the classroom.”

De-Escalation Strategies Teachers Can Use in Their Classroom by Matt Homrich-Knieling

• “Conflict is an unavoidable reality of teaching. [...] Once school leaders and educators accept this reality, the question isn’t how can we avoid conflict, but instead how can we respond to conflict?”

Anti-Racism Toolkit by Carmen Budilean at NBMC and Dr. Manju Vharma

• This toolkit aims to equip teenagers, SWIS, and teachers with the necessary tools and strategies to effectively intervene in and support victims of racism.

Bystander Intervention Training by Right to Be

• Right to Be offers trainings on how to be a bystander when witnessing injustice towards different communities. They have an active shooter training, a bystander intervention training for educators, a bystander intervention training to support the immigrant community, and more. 

  • They also have a conversation guide to help youth build skills, voice and confidence to be effective bystanders. 

Children's Rights in Education: Applying a Rights-Based Approach to Education: A Resource Guide and Activity Toolkit by UNICEF Canada, the University of Toronto - Ontario Institute for Studies in Education & the Canaidan International Development Agency

• This guide seeks to enable teachers to creatively and confidently develop K-12 student voice and agency, and to confront and take action on rights-related and equity issues in school and society. Simultaneously, this resource aims to cultivate teachers’ knowledge, skills, and dispositions to advocate for and comprehensively address rights and equity-oriented issues that arise in their classrooms, schools, and curriculum.

Compassionate Education - Supporting Students' Well-Bring and Resilience by Raghad Ebied

• "[...] The number of children who have experienced trauma and violence is on the rise. Thus, a compassion-based framework in education which supports student well-being and equity becomes even more pressing. Research suggests that taking this increasingly holistic approach to education improves students’ academic success and well-being and reduces educator stress and burnout. In this talk, the elements of a compassion-based framework in education are discussed and applied specifically to supporting refugee students in Ontario."

Equity: Wisconsin’s Model to Inform Culturally Responsive Practices by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

• “The Model to Inform Culturally Responsive Practices describes the beliefs, knowledge, and practices Wisconsin educators, schools, and districts need to reach and teach diverse students within their culturally responsive multi-level systems of support.”

Welcome Cards to Support Newcomer Students by School Mental Health Ontario

• Welcome cards to support newcomer students as they join schools have been designed to be both comforting and affirming. These cards aim to instill a sense of belonging, helping new students feel embraced by their school community. 

Research on Language & Learning by CYRRC

• Browse projects that focus on the role of language of origin of refugee children and youth on their cognitive and literacy skills in the destination country as well as the social contexts that further their educational achievement, literacy levels and language skills. 

Resources by the University of Leicester

• Find online course suggestions, articles and blogs, and podcasts and interviews on good practices when working with refugee-background students compiled by the University of Leicester. They also offers a free, self-paced online training for teachers on trauma-informed ESOL for refugees with the option of scheduling a live workshop (for a fee). 

Supporting Newcomer Youth Through the Process of School Integration in Canada: A Brief Report Highlighting Student Voices by Researchers at the University of Calgary

• "Given that an increasing number of newcomer youth enter high schools in Canada each year, educational settings are faced with the challenge of creating programming and policies that promote a positive integration process. As part of a larger study that examined the integration experiences of newcomer youth, four participants were asked to offer advice for other newcomer students and for professionals working with this group and suggestions of ways to improve the current educational system. Analysis of these suggestions revealed four themes: (a) forming connections, (b) support from professionals, (c) appropriate placement, and (d) provision of additional resources and information."

Students with Refugee Experience: A Guide for Teachers and Schools by the Government of British Columbia - Ministry of Education

Resources by CMAS

• CMAS has materials specifically on supporting refugees and online courses on various topics related to working with newcomer families.

TeachingEnglish (Online Courses) by the British Council 

• The British Council offers courses on various topics related to English-language learning, including on inclusive classrooms, teaching English to refugees and displaced learners and English in the multilingual classroom.