So, I usually post my favorite new books in January. But this year there have been so many books related to trauma-informed education come out this summer, that I felt the need to let you know about these fabulous reads that could be used as professional learning or given as a gift to the teacher in your life!
Light up the Learning Brain– Jessica Sinarski I mentioned this in January, before it was available. And this book did NOT disappoint. Jessica is an amazing teacher, and this book is so easy to digest and FULL of incredible understanding of the neuroscience of learning and what educators can do to address behavioral challenges and create a safe and supportive environment where both the students’ and staff’s potential is unlocked. Just when I thought Jessica couldn’t get any better after writing a delicious graphic book on how brains work for children and pre-teens, she does it again focused directly on what educators need to know. This would be a great book study for your staff.
Becoming a Trauma-Informed Restorative Educator – Joe Brummer and Marg Thorsborne. If you buy one book this season: this one is it! I’ve known Joe for so long and have always been excited about how he brings restorative practices into schools in a way that is truly trauma-informed. This time he teamed up with Marg Thorsborne, an expert and pioneer in restorative practices. She’s an amazing force for this work throughout Australia and around the world as the founding director of Restorative Practices International. Ginger and I interviewed them back in June right before the book launched and here’s the link to our delightful podcast. I was blown away by the insightful ways that Joe and Marg look at this work. They sparked all kinds of new ideas in my own brain…this is a MUST read for every educator…especially those in leadership!
Body and Brain Brilliance: A Manual to Cultivate Awareness and Practices for Our Nervous Systems– Lori Desautels. This is a “neuro-educational” manual for those of us seeking a roadmap to go deeper into regulating students’ nervous systems. And once again Dr. Desautels is making neuroscience research accessible to educators, with great examples and mini-lessons.
Regulation and Co-Regulation: Accessible Neuroscience and Connection Strategies for the Classroom and Beyond Workbook-Ginger Healy Ginger’s latest is a hands-on workbook that helps you put into action the concepts from her book of the same name Regulation and Co-Regulation: Accessible Neuroscience and Connection Strategies for the Classroom and Beyond. They make a great set together – but if you’re looking for strategies and lessons you can implement today to help children (and grown-ups) regulate their nervous systems, you’ll find it here!
Becoming an Everyday Changemaker: Healing and Justice at School – Alex Shevrin Venet is for anyone in schools who is trying to effect human-centered change. Alex focuses on helping you develop the skills and strategies to make the change effective and views this through her equity-centered and trauma-informed lens. This is definitely a “must read” for school leaders who are embarking on this journey.
Coming Soon – I haven’t read either of these next ones yet, but they’re about to be released and are definitely worth exploring:
Becoming a Trauma-Sensitive Educator – Jen Alexander. The latest from Ms. Jen is an online course and workbook designed to help you deepen your journey as a trauma-sensitive educator. Knowing Ms. Jen’s previous quality of work, it will be FULL of incredible activities and insights as well as deep learning – and will be great for teams.
30-Minute Groups: Managing Big Emotions – Ginger Healy – you can preorder this book now full of 30-minute SEL lessons for to use with your small groups or whole classrooms.
