The class of 12 teaching artists from Bartol’s spring 2019 trauma-informed practice training.
This past weekend, the Bartol Foundation graduated the second cohort of teaching artists from our new trauma-informed practice training. These teaching artists have completed 20 hours of training over five Saturdays, learning about trauma’s effect on the brain, how to recognize signs of trauma, and how to adapt their lesson plans to work with trauma-impacted populations. Over the next year, these artists will work with thousands of students in communities all over Philadelphia, taking this training with them wherever they go.
Keep reading to hear some of the teaching artists’ main takeaways and lessons learned.
I grew…
- As a teaching artist, as a human being wanting to make a difference in building resilience in youth impacted by trauma.
- My capacity for empathy and patience in challenging situations, as well as my own emotional intelligence.
- My perspective, my compassion, my determination.
I take away…
- The mindset of not feeling like I need to solve a problem to make things better. The fact that I can acknowledge a problem, feeling, or issue is helpful and/or progressive.
- New tools and community connections with Bartol and fellow TAs that will allow me to broaden my understanding and deepen my commitment to this important work.
- Many new examples of teaching openers, closers, and lessons plans.
I question…
- Authority and power structures in our society.
- How I can enact these principles in times when I’m responsible for so many people.
- My perceptions of how I think I should support my students.
I seek…
- More opportunities to apply these practices in more contexts and with varying populations.
- Methods in practicing these skills with students who do not speak English as their first language.
- More time to reflect and be meaningful in my practice.
I resolve…
- I can commit that I will continue to practice and model trauma-informed practice in my class settings to the best of my ability.
- To (re)focus on the process and expression of art-making rather than the products.
- To continue to strengthen and prioritize my conviction that trauma-informed practices benefit everyone; myself, my students, other practitioners, and witnesses.
Plans are currently underway to offer this training in fall 2019. Sign up for Bartol’s email newsletter and follow us on social media and be the first to learn how you can apply.