Information For Teachers: Classroom Management Following Disasters
Processing Information About Disasters in
the School Setting
It is important to discuss important events like the occurrence
of a disaster, and schools offer an ideal setting to reach a large
number of children
There are several over-arching goals, including: being responsive
to an urgent situation, assuring safety, using the school setting
to discuss events that are ongoing, providing an outlet for discussing
thoughts, feelings and reactions to the disaster, improving capacity
for healthy adjustment, determining for whom and when professional
intervention may be warranted
The amount of time dedicated to educational and debriefing activities
should be long enough to address the principal aims but not too long
as to be burdensome
A variety of techniques can be used, including educational programs
(at the class level or larger), debriefing in individual classrooms,
interface with the school mental health team
Issues Related to the Conduct of
Classroom Activities
Make sure students feel safe and do what is necessary to guarantee
safety
Maintaining structure and the usual daily routine is reassuring,
even as special educational programs and debriefing activities are
introduced
Try to allow some focused time each day to spend on discussion of
current events and debriefing of students - perhaps in a social studies
class or other consistent and appropriate place in the daily schedule
Children should not watch graphic events on television alone, and
benefit from having an adult to process this information with them
Viewing potentially upsetting scenes over can increase traumatic
stress
What to Say to Your Students and How to Say
It
Let your students know that you (and other adults in their lives)
are there to LISTEN and to answer questions
Let your students know that it is normal to experience many different
thoughts and feelings after experiencing a disaster
Let your students know that you and they will find ways to cope
with the disaster
Use your judgment as to how much factual information is appropriate
following individual children's cues as to how much is enough
Use words that your class will understand
Allow your students to tell you what they understand about the disaster,
in the spirit of mastering the material
Allow some opportunity for students to say how they feel, in words
or in play - without letting them say things in public that they may
regret later
You CAN share your concerns about the disaster with your students,
but try to leave them feeling safe at the end of the conversation
What Can be Done for Students in the
School Settings
The main goal is to assist with the dissemination of information,
interfering with distortion and rumors, education regarding the range
of affect and behavior that can be expected, focusing on improving
coping skills, provision of early support services in the school,
and screening and triage functions
This may be achieved through debriefing of factual material and
the affective response to it, both for students and for teachers,
provision of educational assemblies for students and parents, and
access to appropriate mental health information and services
The school can also help students by providing systematic information
to families, and assisting families in how they deal with their children.
