ANTS in your PANTS: A Trauma Informed Teaching Resource
ANTS in your PANTS: A Trauma Informed Teaching Resource is a framework that was developed by an Occupational Therapist and Special Education Teacher.
This framework was developed using principles of trauma-informed care, integrated with key understandings of attachment, self-regulation and social emotional learning. The framework highlights practical strategies and skills for recognizing and responding to challenging behaviour in the classroom in a way that is trauma-sensitive .
WORKSHOPS
Professional development workshops are now available - In Person or Virtually!
A Written Guidebook is in the works!
Why did we create this?
Andria (Occupational Therapist) and Ali (Special Education Teacher) worked together on an Inpatient Child Psychiatry unit for several years. Through years of collaboration, an integration of occupational therapy and educational approaches grew alongside their passion for finding a deeper understanding and compassion for students with challenging behaviours. This moved them to create a resource for teachers and support staff who work with these kids day in and day out.
Teachers navigate some of the most challenging dynamics as they focus on building student’s academic achievement in concert with caring for their students social and emotional well-being. Using trauma-informed teaching approaches, teachers can ensure that they are responsive and supportive to the needs of all students, with the added compassion and confidence in dealing with challenging behaviours.
Integrating the abundance of research and evidence-based approaches into practice can feel overwhelming. Andria and Ali developed the ANTS in your PANTS framework as a tool to easily organize practical, in-the-moment strategies that were grounded in the principles of trauma-informed care.
This tool is divided into four main themes as a framework to follow in your classroom.
Background Information on being trauma informed, understanding attachment theory and needs, Self-Regulation and Social Emotional Learning.
ANTS - Becoming a Detective - what is the behaviour communicating
PANTS - Practical Strategies to bring into the classroom
Classroom Takeaways
Just to clarify we are not the scientist behind self-regulation, or neurobiologists behind trauma work, but we have a passion to best support these children through practical, classroom-based strategies. We have used and seen strategies that work, and feel this framework is a good starting point for all teachers and support staff.