Chosen Stories
29 August 2018

Isaac and Mr. Miller’s Story

Chosen - Adoption | Foster & Orphan Care Outreach | Mentoring

Teacher’s need education too!

Isaac* arrived in his new family’s home two years ago, as a four-year-old. His family contacted Chosen for help–they were going through a difficult time and they wanted to address his challenging behaviors.

 

Training for Isaac’s Family 

His mom, dad, and three older siblings wanted him in their family, but they were placing the responsibility to change on Isaac alone. Chosen helped Isaac’s family understand how the trauma Isaac experienced early in life was impacting his biology, which was impacting his current behavior.  

Chosen helped the family strengthen their attachment to Isaac and equipped them with techniques to correct his difficult behaviors. Their family life improved dramatically.

 

Trouble at School

However, when Isaac started kindergarten, the first few weeks of school did not go well, even though he was excited to be in school. His teacher called Isaac’s parents every day with reports of out-of-control behavior in the classroom.  

She admitted to trying every allowable punishment with no success. Her biggest frustration was that he wasn’t completing his daily work. Isaac’s parents were discouraged; they wondered why so much success at home would not transfer to the classroom.

 

Trauma-informed Resources for Isaac’s Teacher

Over time, Isaac’s parents convinced his teacher to talk with Chosen staff. Chosen helped her understand trauma’s impact on the brain. Traditional discipline techniques can amplify challenging behaviors in children who have experienced trauma. Our staff equipped her with techniques and resources she could use in the classroom. Perhaps most importantly, we helped her reset her expectations for what school success looks like for Isaac. 

After one week of implementing trauma-informed tools, Isaac’s teacher feels more equipped to help him and she has already seen improvement in his behaviors. When the right tools are provided, success is possible! We encourage you to share these resources with your children’s teachers today.  

*Name has been changed in the interest of privacy.