Online Workshop: Creative Lessons and Scaffolding in the Trauma-Informed Classroom – Jun 5

Posted by City of Philadelphia Office of Children and Families Adult Education on May 23, 2023

This workshop is part of the Office of Children and Families (OCF) Adult Education’s Spring professional development workshop series for adult educators, administrators, and volunteers.

We’ll look first at ways creativity can be helpful to the brain processes involved in trauma and at the interventions creative practices can offer in the trauma-informed classroom. We’ll then practice some ways to incorporate creative activities, processes and structures in our class objectives and plans. How might creative scaffolding invite our learners in? We’ll discuss some ways that creativity can be helpful when dealing with potentially triggering subjects in the classroom. We’ll have time to reflect upon and troubleshoot common challenges that arise.

About the Facilitator: Laura Neuman (she/they) is a writer and educator with a background in dance and somatics. Laura has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in literature and creative writing at The College of New Jersey since 2016, and previously taught creative writing and composition at Temple University, Community College of Philadelphia, and Highline Community College in Des Moines, Washington. She has published three collections of poetry: The Busy Life (Gazing Grain 2012), Stop the Ocean (Stockport Flats 2014) and Risk: Nonchalance (Omnidawn 2017). Laura’s collaborations with dancers have been presented at the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival, the Philadelphia Art Museum, the Painted Bride, the Nexus Gallery, the Icebox Gallery, and Vox Populi Gallery. Laura has taught workshops for educators on incorporating poetry and creativity into the classroom in the Watchung Regional School District and at the Henry Art Museum at the University of Washington, and regularly works with current and future teachers in the Masters program at T.C.N.J. She holds a Masters of Fine Arts in Writing from Bard College, and a Masters in English (Creative Writing, Poetry) from Temple University. In 2018, Laura earned a first-year certificate from The Trauma Institute for the year one professional training in Somatic Experiencing, a somatic technique that fosters nervous system regulation. 

Date and Time: Monday, June 5, 2023, 12:00-1:30 PM

Register.