Health, Safety and Wellness Committee Presents Author/Educator Karen Gross

How Reading Trauma Sensitive Children’s Books to and with Students Helps Them Thrive

Thank you for attending this two part webinar series by acclaimed Author and Speaker, Karen Gross, which addressed how we, parents and educators, can work with our children and students to deal with mental health issues from trauma, anxiety, depression and fear. In addition to the educational webinar, Karen Gross, is included a complimentary copy of her book and written material in pdf format.

Below please find the material from this program for you to download and use with your children/students and the link for the recording of the webinar sessions.

Webinar Session 1 Feb. 7, 2022 Event Time: 7:10 pm. – 8:00 pm (ET)

Title: How Reading Trauma Sensitive Children’s Books to and with Students Helps Them Thrive
The first of two sessions (one can enroll in one or both) will focus on trauma sensitive books for younger students (Grades K — 6). In addition to reading a story written by Karen Gross, participants will learn the “layer-cake” approach to trauma sensitive reading. In addition to the story itself, children’s books can serve as launch pads for drawing, dancing, design, dilemma solving and discourse (the 5 D’s). Concrete examples will be provided and demonstrated; parents and educators can take these strategies home and use them immediately with the PDF of the book they receive upon registration. In difficult times, reading to, with and by children takes on added significance.

Downloadable Book: Lady Lucy’s Quest, by Karen Gross

Karen Gross’s Presentation Material

February 7, 2022 Webinar Recording

Webinar Session 2 March 7, 2022 Event Time: 7:00 pm. – 8:00 pm (ET)

The second session focused on books/ poems/ stories written for older students (middle and beginning high school). Attendees learned about a host of collateral activities that can be used to augment the power of the written word. These include the student creation of games, songs, dances; these works also enable research and discussion between students and parents/teachers. Written words are a profound launch pad and the topics within them enable students (even for non-readers) to address their feelings, their creativity and their problem solving skills, all of which are impaired by trauma. For the disengaged older student, struggling with the continuation of the Pandemic and the ways in which it impedes their freedom, books/ poems/ stories can help us travel within our minds and with our friends.

8 Best Trauma Responsive Books for Children