Stop the downward spiral

Students who appear not to be learning in schools are still learning something. Are they going to learn that they are stupid, bad, don't belong in schools and can’t ever learn, or can we make the changes needed in schools so that teachers have a clear "teaching" task, even when students are temporarily unable to learn the curriculum as it is designed? This research clearly indicates that instead of a downward spiral of failure and confrontation, students who have experienced violence can be learning that their learning difficulties are "normal" reactions to violence and that they are struggling "normally" to survive violence. They can be learning approaches that help them to learn, they can be learning about themselves as learners and what works for them, and that the doors will be open for them to learn later if they are unable to learn the curriculum now. If schools and youth programs acknowledge the widespread presence of violence, make it possible for students to move away from believing they are bad, support them to create connections with trustworthy adults, and to take control of whether they will disclose the violence they experience, they will create safer environments where this learning can take place. If they offer a wide range of accessible supports and approaches to help students feel valued and respected they will create learning environments where students can learn that they can learn.