When you feel scared, which do you choose: fight or flight?
What if Justin told you that it’s actually not a choice you make, but one your body makes naturally?
How could understanding a crazy term like POLYVAGAL help your students to feel more empowered?
Are you an educator concerned about students who may have experienced trauma? If so, this video is a valuable resource for you. Join us as we sit down with Justin Sunseri, a licensed therapist working within California’s public school system, who generously shares his expertise to help you navigate this important topic.
Justin provides insightful information on how trauma can become normalized and affect both students and educators. He introduces the Polyvagal Theory, a biological explanation of how our bodies respond to stress and unexpected danger cues. Through a clear and engaging discussion, Justin breaks down the Polyvagal Theory, making it accessible and understandable.
By understanding this theory, you’ll discover how students’ stress responses are not a result of weakness or emotional immaturity but rather a natural, evolutionary response. Justin’s expertise shines as he explains how he helps students experiencing trauma and guides them through the steps to navigate the Polyvagal ladder, teaching them self-calming techniques to foster healthy interactions.
Don’t miss this enlightening conversation that can empower educators to create safe spaces and support students on their journey to healing and growth. Subscribe now for invaluable insights and strategies.
Activities to use this podcast in your classes:
- Ask students to draw a three-pronged ladder and then think about a time when they were very scared. Ask them to write their emotions before they were frightened, what happened as they perceived the frightening event, what they did, and what happened at the summit of this emotional event. They draw these changes on the ladder. Ask them to draw another ladder and to share ways that they could climb down from the highest peak. Show them the Polyvagal Theory’s ladder and have a conversation about the organic reaction your body has to danger and the ways Justin explains they can help themselves climb down from the highest rungs of the ladder.
- Justin explains that, according to the Polyvagal Theory, our reactions to unexpected and frightening events have biological, organic roots and we may feel more compassion to ourselves and others by understanding the ladder up and down that all mammals follow in such situations. Prepare your students for simulations, and then play frightening music, a very loud, aggressive voice in a language none of your students speak (it’s the tone and effusiveness of the voice that matters), intense, blasting instrumental music, etc. Have your students write down how they feel, how their bodies react, what their thoughts are. Give them time to share their thoughts in their groups and then share them as a class. Encourage them to share their thoughts as a group, so that no individual student is highlighted by her/his reaction. Go through the Polyvagal ladder again and ask students how fast they climbed to the top and ask them what they can do to climb down again.
- Use the Polyvagal Ladder chart below to aid in explaining the rise and fall of the body as it reacts to what it perceives as danger.
Music: Jakub Pietras Irish Pub
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Scaffoldingmagic.com is your entryway into DYNAMIC bilingual learning methodologies, such as Phenomenon-Based Learning, CLIL, EMI, and ESL. You’ll find ways to implement critical thinking tools (DOK) to promote higher level thinking, the growth mindset, instil an ethic of excellence, deep reflection on learning, and all through multi-cultural, interdisciplinary activities. We have the keys to turning competences into action and to creating collective efficacy in your school so you move ahead as a unified, enthusiastic team.
