ACEs and Trauma-Informed Teaching in the English Classroom

Abstract

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) plague our population. When people experience trauma through ACEs, they tend to cope through their trauma negatively. Many of these negative coping mechanisms tend to include risky behaviors which can lead to detrimental health issues in later adulthood. English teachers have the ability to educate students on ACEs by using Critical Literacy Pedagogy and Trauma-Informed Teaching. Students can analyze characters in novels and use ACEs as a lens to understand what the characters are experiencing. Teachers can help students make connections between informational articles and the text to help understand ACEs and healthy ways to cope through trauma.