[NLA] Discussion: Adult Learners with Trauma

[Debbie Yoho]

At a workshop I attended, a teacher shared the success of her "Island of
Peace" strategy in her classroom.  She blocked off a corner, furnished it
with a carpet, a comfortable chair, an audio system with a headset, CD's
with soothing music of all different kinds, a living-room lamp for
ambience, art books full of beautiful pictures, a bulletin board for
posting all kinds of affirmations, and simple art suppplies.  She invited
learners to use the "Island" whenever they wished, especially during times
of crisis, worry, or high stress in their lives, to "center" themselves
before tackling their lessons. Learners could just listen to music, draw,
look at pictures, etc.  She felt it made a major difference with many
learners, and she was surprised at the insight learners used to diagnose
their own need for "island time", as well how much they appreciated the
opportunity. 

You know, some things don't need to be addressed with policy.  Some things
can be addressed by individual teachers who are just fully sensitized to
learner need. The policy need is to figure out a way to insure all learners
have access to teachers of this caliber.   Debbie

Deborah W. Yoho
Co-moderator, NIFL-Health Listserv
President, SC Adult Literacy Educators
Executive Director, Greater Columbia Literacy Council
2728 Devine Street,  Columbia, SC  29205
803-765-2555   Fax  803-779-8417   dwyoho at earthlink.net


> [Original Message]
> From: <Awilderast at aol.com>
> To: <nla at lists.literacytent.org>
> Date: 1/19/2003 3:36:47 PM
> Subject: Re: [NLA] Discussion: Policy or Legal Challenges on behalf of
Adult Learners with Trauma
>
> David and Nancy,
>
> Art has much to say about this topic, emotional trauma and its effect on 
> learning, and I hope he will, and will also describe a mini-study he 
> completed.  Jenny Horsman's book, "Too Scared to Learn" is a wonderful 
> description of this problem as 
> it has affected women in literacy classes.  The problem ranges from
simple 
> conditioning--a person sweats when approaching a school room door--to
Post 
> Traumatic Stress Disorder which may affect a person to the degree that 
> emotions almost always overwhelm a person's ability to think clearly,
plan. 
> and learn.  
>
> I would be interested to know if there are any advocacy efforts that take 
> emotional reactions caused by stress into account.  Does anyone know of 
> strategies that have been used?
>
> Andrea
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