Big Ideas Program
The Psychological Trauma Center (PTC) presents BIG IDEAS, a teachers manual designed to serve as an educational aid in helping elementary students cope with violent changes in their lives, collectively and as individuals.
BIG IDEAS was designed to help teachers be prepared to help their young students understand their feelings and emotional reactions in a changing, violent world. BIG IDEAS provides educators with a focused and creative approach for helping students look at critical life events, overcoming their fears, anxieties and inabilities to cope as a result of trauma.
BIG IDEAS illustrates how children can address critical life experiences through discussion, cooperative group learning, art, journal writing, and role playing. BIG IDEAS is filled with photographs, sample lessons, and surprisingly expressive drawings and writings by students. BIG IDEAS offers a comprehensive and easy-to-use plan that teachers will find invaluable in any classroom.
BIG IDEAS is quintessentially based on four simple lessons, four concepts, "BIG IDEAS" that help students better understand themselves.
Ann Dorr, Ed.D., author of BIG IDEAS states "No one likes to plan for a critical event, yet we as educators know, if we don't have a plan, chaos can occur. The need for a fire drill can protect students and staff by providing a sense of order, a feeling of safety by being prepared, and help us not be so vulnerable to falling apart when the actual event occurs.
For this very reason, BIG IDEAS is important to present to all elementary school children. By talking to children about stressful, traumatic events we are giving them an opportunity to explore new ways to deal with these situations. Hopefully, this type of classroom exploration will offer children new ways to express themselves and deal with their feelings and reactions to trauma in ways that are appropriate and problem solving.
Annette Kessler, Principal of Weemes Elementary School in Los Angeles states "this program is outstanding in addressing children's needs in coping with stress and trauma... I will continue to use these lessons in my classrooms and will support the adoption of such well-organized curriculum." Gloria Rodriquez, also from Weemes Elementary school comments, "For two years I have implemented the Psychological Trauma Center's BIG IDEAS program, and have been thrilled with the ways in which my students have grown in self-esteem.... I especially appreciated the lesson that helps the students learn to talk to someone if they have a problem that they cannot handle alone."
BIG IDEAS training are available upon request. For more information please contact us.