Half the students in U.S. schools are experiencing or have experienced
trauma, violence, or chronic stress. Much has been written about these
students from a therapeutic perspective, especially regarding how to
provide them with adequate counseling supports and services. Conversely,
little has been written about teaching this population and doing so
from a strengths-based perspective.
Using real-world examples as well as research-based principles, this
book shows how to
- Identify inherent assets that students bring to the classroom.
- Connect to students' experiences through instructional planning and
delivery.
- Foster students' strengths through the use of predictable routines and
structured paired and small-group learning experiences.
- Develop family and community partnerships.
Experts Debbie Zacarian, Lourdes Alvarez-Ortiz, and Judie Haynes outline
a comprehensive, collaborative approach to teaching that focuses on
students' strengths and resiliency. Teaching to Strengths encourages
educators to embrace teaching and schoolwide practices that support and
enhance the academic and socio-emotional development of students living
with trauma, violence, and chronic stress.