Trauma and Grief in the Classroom

Creating a Space for Empathy, Compassion, and Allyship

Abstract

In this essay, the author explores her experiences with trauma and grief in the classroom and proposes that critical witnessing, an act of listening and giving one's own testimony, can support teachers as they navigate their classroom lives and all that their students bring with them. By examining her own experiences and reflecting on her lack of preparation, the author illuminates the complexities that teachers face every day when students choose to share their trauma through conversations and/or writing.