Anthony Elmore

#YES for the jarjums. Huge turnout. Well done Brisbane! ❤️ 💛 🖤 @yes23au @ulurustatement #auspol

Taking this into the schools this year as we rewire our perceptions of discipline exploring the nervous system and how adversity and trauma impact the developing brain and body- ours and our students!

What Is A Ruckus? My secretary called and said there was a ruckus in the front hallway. I was really excited to see what was going on. I wanted to know what a ruckus was. I learned that a ruckus was a small boy I hadn’t net yet. The ruckus was ripping our bulletin board off the wall, knocking over a table and cursing. He turned around & said, “What the F--- are you looking at?” He continued, “You’re fat, bald, and stupid.” I responded with, “You seem to be upset. What do you need? How can I help?” He moved a step closer to me and said, “Are you deaf, too? I just said you’re fat, bald, and stupid.” My response was, “I heard you just fine. Now I really can tell you are upset. What do you need? How can I help you?” He started crying while re-stating for the 3rd time (in case I missed the other two times), “You’re fat, bald, and stupid.” He then said, “I hate this stupid school; I don’t know why I’m here. I don’t know where my mom is. I hate my foster family.“ He reached his arms out. I asked if he needed a hug and he nodded. I then asked if he wanted to go to my office. He nodded. I let him know that “Dr. P” is here if he needs anything. He sat at my table and put his head down. He looked me in the eyes and said, “Dr. P, I’m very sorry for everything that I did. I just miss my mom.” I responded by telling him that I appreciate his apology and that I accept it. He then said, “I am also really sorry for calling you those mean things. I didn’t mean it.” We brainstormed some ideas of what he could do in the future if he was having a tough day. He suggested that he could ask to get a drink, ask for help, or just put his head down. I let him know that these are great strategies. I added that he could always ask to see the counselor or me. We then discussed how he could be on the lookout for signs that he was getting upset, frustrated, angry, or agitated. He said that he sometimes started to clinch his fists and his breathing changed. I told him that those were good signs and that the body often gives us signs that we are starting to get upset. We both agreed that it was so important to listen to our bodies. He asked if he could get his backpack and coat. I thought that was an unusual request for 10 a.m. I asked him why he would need his backpack and coat. He replied, “Because I’m going to get suspended like I did at my last school.” I let him know that there may be another plan. He scrunched his face and looked puzzled. I asked, “How do you think you could fix what you did this morning?” He thought about it for a minute or so and responded with, “I can pick-up what I threw and fix anything that I broke.” I let him know that this seemed like a good plan. He picked up the items that he threw and helped put the bulletin board back on the wall. I went over the plan for the next time and we made sure he knew what to do in case he got upset, frustrated, angry or agitated again. I said, “Since we’ve agreed on the plan, let’s shake on it to make it official.” He reached out his hand and shook mine. I let him know that he could go back to class. He picked up his bookbag and his jacket and started off to his class. I called his teacher to let him know that he was on his way. His teacher was so happy to welcome him back to class. I never had another problem with him. A teacher stopped by later that day. She couldn’t understand why he wasn’t suspended. “He called you fat, bald, and stupid.” My response was that it never was about me. I then asked the teacher if any of the comments were false. She looked at me like I was crazy. I let her know that I am fat and bald. Those were both true statements. I also argued that stupid is a relative term. She didn’t like my answer. How do you deal with colleagues who are fixed mindset, focused on punitive methods or who believe that alternatives to suspensions equate to being soft on discipline? From the book “Maslow Before Bloom: Basic Human Needs Before Academics” (a.co/d/fhhFJ4V)

“Trauma-aware education is not a program or more work for busy educators to manage. Rather it is a shift in thinking, believing, planning and acting so that the harm that trauma exerts on the children is minimised and learning and achievement can happen.” - @DrJudithHoward

No matter who you are, who you love or where you come from – you should be valued, equal and celebrated. Australia is committed to being a global leader in promoting, protecting and upholding human rights.

A teacher's tone of voice, volume, and pacing can have a surprisingly large effect on classroom culture, including students’ sense of belonging—a recent study found. edutopia.org/article/how-to…

Understanding how trauma lives in the nervous system shifts the way we discipline! #schools #education #educator

A child's behavior isn't about me. They're not doing this to me. It's a symptom like a sneeze showing us a cold, a cut showing there's a wound, and a scab showing us healing. This behavior is showing us that the nervous system is rough. Can we become curious? What is underneath?

If you are truly trauma responsive, you are questioning discussing and exploring your discipline data! It tells the story!

We are no different than our students! What is beneath the behavior of our students and ourselves?

Nathan, Thank you for asking me to present with you as it has been such a fun inspiring morning!

One stop from Varsity Station, ⁦@QueenslandRail⁩ has abandoned passengers due to union regulations!!!

My good friends from #Ipswich, Rachel & Francis, made a surprise visit to Parliament House today. They brightened a somber day of speeches marking the death of the Queen. Also comforting, the watchful gaze of former PM Paul Keating. #AusPol

When we focus on behavior, we are not attending to the root of sustainable growth!

Fantastic start to the Trauma Aware Schooling conference… @principalest very inspiring with opening keynote. #TraumaAwareSchooling #TraumaAware2022

#collective #wisdom at the CaSPA Conference highlights the importance of #family and #Recreation. @CaSPAust #principalwellbeing #AustralianLeaders #education #schools #LeadershipDevelopment #LeadershipMatters

@annabelcrabb @abc730 Might need to check geography there…Blair is not in ‘Northern Qld’.

Today, the Church remembers the #ArchangelSaints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, messengers of God's grace. Let us entrust ourselves to them so that our good works might make God's love visible in the world.