Excited to be working on a new training that's all about how nature can be regulating for students and staff. There are so many ways to incorporate nature at school!

Coregulation's power is in its repeated use. Coregulating once or even a few times with a learner doesn't mean they won't require it again. Meeting humans where they are, believing them about their distress, and giving support is something we all need. Learners who are traumatized need it even more.

Not letting AI annihilate our species is suicide prevention. It's also trauma-informed.

If you're back-to-school soon, soak up all those feels in the first days. Be real about your own emotions and be present with kids, too. What a special thing is to build community with a group of humans who will learn and grow together. I'd love to hear something from your first day! #EduSky

Every learner and educator at school needs oodles of daily connection that's not rooted in compliance. "Good morning"s "good to see you"s, and "I missed you over the break," matter! Meaningful dialogue is important too.

Wow... www.tiktok.com/@brandicarli...

Since so many of you asked…. Here’s my full totally unhinged version of “Uninvited” at Newport 7.26.26 🤘

TikTok video by Brandi Carlile

tiktok.com

Working on a new training for paraeducators. Participants will be practicing ten skills to prevent and address challenging behavior—all from a relationships-first perspective! Message or email me if your staff would benefit from this!

As much as I value trauma-sensitive practice, there is a time and place to say, "Stop doing that."

It's okay if you're feeling like a summer sloth, educators. I've got just one suggestion for you this month. Click the link to read my newest Substack! open.substack.com/pub/msjenale...

When You Feel Like a Summer Sloth

You deserve compassionate care

open.substack.com

Reading "trauma is not sacred" by @razorfemme.bsky.social. "if i told you my story, would you swallow it whole." Humans consume one another's suffering without seeing their fellow being. Or, themselves. It's people who matter. Let's be responsive to humans; not trauma. onbeing.org/poetry/traum...

trauma is not sacred

A poem by Kai Cheng Thom.

onbeing.org

Having a new puppy brings all the feels!

You made it to summer! :-) When you’re ready for an editable action plan related to school safety and your school culture goal, I've prepared a trauma-sensitive one for you in this month's Substack. It will help your teams decrease yelling. Read and save! open.substack.com/pub/msjenale...

A Goal-Setting Idea for Next Year

Every school's got harm—let's work on it

open.substack.com

I've never liked it when educators report on a student's behavior by saying that "we" had a rough day. "We" didn't dysregulate and engage in concerning behavior (at least I hope not) so please don't say "we" did the thing. Sorting out what's me vs. you matters with kids. More tips coming! #EduSky

Excellent explanation of trauma with powerful art by @aubreyhirsch.bsky.social. Thanks @asv.bsky.social for posting.

Aubrey Hirsch@aubreyhirsch.bsky.social · 5mo ago

On trauma and memory and words not being enough.

If you lead formally or informally and feel concerned about educators who dysregulate in response to challenging behavior, I have a practical 3-hour, virtual training you can register for in July! Hint: None of my ideas involve becoming a colleague's therapist! www.eventbrite.com/e/everything...

Everything I Didn’t Learn in Grad. School for Today’s Challenging Behavior

Educators can make student dysregulation worse instead of better. Learn practical, trauma-sensitive strategies to support staff regulation.

eventbrite.com

My Substack this month acknowledges that as adults we sometimes make things worse for kids at school. I've got a tip for you after that happens. And more! #EduSky msjenalexander.substack.com/p/lil-things...

Li'l Things for May

Lean into the li'l stuff as the end of the year brings change!

msjenalexander.substack.com

Trauma-sensitive education isn't only for children; it's for families too. I wrote about ten tips for early childhood educators over at the ZERO TO THREE blog! www.zerotothree.org/journal/hope...

Stoking Hope in Early Childhood Education: Ten Trauma-Sensitive Tips for Supporting Families

Trauma-informed early childhood education must support and empower primary caregivers so families and children can truly thrive.

zerotothree.org

We are having beautiful weather in Iowa, and I'm over the moon that I'm picking out flowers for my outdoor spaces tomorrow!

Ready and excited to be in classrooms side-by-side with teachers this week for trauma-sensitive coaching. Can't wait for these conservations!

Loving being invited to work more with mental health professionals on ensuring family caregivers receive trauma-sensitive care—not just youth! Here's an idea: Don't assume you are the first provider to work with a family unless they say that. Ask, "What makes things worse?" And, try not to do that.

We've got women sending another woman safely 'round the moon, which is really something. Meanwhile, I'm over here wondering if this is a week when I'll need duct tape on my skin to keep my HRT patch on—or not—since health insurance is legally killing us all.

Join me next month at the Spring IA Play Therapy Association Conf. on 4/17/26! My 3-hour keynote will teach you how to support youth in better understanding their attachment needs in relationships and build their skills for understanding others too. Register today! iowaa4pt.org/annual-sprin...

You know you're in rural Iowa when driving halfway across the state before a blizzard day in a spontaneous moment of self-care to pick-up a shelf you'll redo. The vintage piece cost less than the gas to get there, and the seller gave me landmarks about where to meet instead of an address. Love it!

Trauma-informed practice isn't just for youth. It's for families too. Parents who care about their kids are supposed to be dysregulated when loved ones aren't okay, especially if their children are unsafe. Please acknowledge these grounded-in-reality fears and offer support instead of judging folks.

Presenting tomorrow at 1:45 Eastern at @attachtraumanetwork's 2026 conference. My session is Are You Ready For It? Structuring Classrooms to Prevent Big Behavior. Our power to stop nervous system overwhelm is before it happens. Learn all about how to do that with youth of all ages in my session!

We don't provide enough opportunities for teachers to share their questions, curiosities, anxieties, fears, regrets, and wonderings about how we do this important work. Moments matter. Sharing them in a safe space matters too.

Let's stop playing hangman at school, please. The game is rooted in violence and murder. What's your favorite word-game alternative? Also, ICE doesn't belong in our communities or schools either.

Educators who support ICE aren't safe for any of our children.

Trauma-informed mental health professional and educator here. Letting you know that as people experiencing or witnessing the harm being unleashed on both children and adults, our bodies' don't need grounding, gentle movement, or a release of stress-induced energy as much as we need the harm to stop.

My January Substack gives you PD suggestions and sends you to this month's blog post about anger. Learn what anger is, why so many folks are feeling it right now, and what you can do as an educator to honor anger and the needs that go with it. Here's the link! open.substack.com/pub/msjenale...