Books
Books for Professionals & Parents
Comprehensive guides grounded in neuroscience research and practical experience
Reducing Stress in Schools: Restoring Connection and Community
In Reducing Stress in Schools, Mathew Portell, Ingrid L. Cockhren, Tyisha J. Noise, Julie Kurtz, and Julie Nicholson provide a toolkit of actionable, evidence- based practices for PreK–12 teachers, administrators, and staff to support students’ and adults’ nervous system regulation. Rooted in the tenets of trauma- responsive education and current neuroscience, these strategies address stress- related behavioral challenges present in schools, including fight, flight, freeze, and fawn behaviors. Unique in its approach, this book raises awareness of the collective trauma caused by the pandemic, highlights the effects of racial and historical trauma, draws attention to educators' stress and burnout, and proposes strategies for stress reduction drawn from a diverse range of practitioner experience. The authors show that, in the post-COVID-19 era, as students and educators contend with unprecedented exposure to mental health stressors, research supports classroom management via relationship-building interventions. They demonstrate how alternatives to exclusionary discipline practices can promote social-emotional learning, counter learning loss, and improve student skills such as sensory literacy, resilience, and frustration tolerance. This work delivers clear guidance throughout chapters that feature real-world case studies, sample conversations, and questions for reflection and discussion. It also includes recommendations for countering resistance to the implementation of trauma-responsive practices for classroom management. Ultimately, it gives educators the tools to build schools that reduce stress and strengthen racial justice, equity, healing, and safety.
Trauma-Informed Practices for Early Childhood Educators: Relationship-Based Approaches that Reduce Stress, Build Resilience and Support Healing in Young Children (Edition 2)
Th is second edition of Trauma-Informed Practices for Early Childhood Educators continues to guide childcare providers and early educators working with infants, toddlers, preschoolers and early elementary-aged children to understand trauma as well as its impact on young children’s brains, behavior, learning and development. Th e book covers a range of trauma-responsive teaching strategies that readers can use to create strength-based environments that support children’s health, healing and resiliency. Updates include a greater emphasis on resilience and collaborating with mental health specialists, new chapters on developing children’s body awareness/sensory literacy and pathways to regulation that reduce stress through breathing techniques and mindful movement, as well as new vignettes and case studies to use in workshops or professional development. Supervisors and coaches will learn a range of powerful trauma-responsive practices that they can use to support workforce development and enhance their quality improvement initiatives.
Trauma-Responsive Practices for Early Childhood Leaders
Specifically designed for administrators and leaders working in early childhood education, this practical guide offers comprehensive resources for creating trauma-responsive organizations and systems. Throughout this book, you’ll find: • Exercises and tools for identifying the strengths and areas in need of change within your program, school or agency. • Reflection questions and sample conversations. • Rich vignettes from programs already striving to create healthier, trauma-responsive environments. The guidance in this book is explained with simple, easy-to-implement strategies you can apply immediately to your own practice and is accompanied by brainstorming questions to help educational leaders both new to and experienced with trauma-informed practices succeed.
Trauma-Responsive Family Engagement in Early Childhood: Practices for Equity and Resilience
Designed for all professionals working with parents and families of young children, this practical guide offers comprehensive resources for building trauma-responsive family engagement in your school or program. Throughout this book, you'll find: • Evidence-based practices that promote trauma-response family engagement • Exercises and tools for identifying the strengths and learning edges within your program, school or agency. • Vignettes from people and programs striving to create trusting, asset-focused partnerships with families that improve equity and promote culturally responsive family engagement practices. • Reflective inquiry questions and sample conversations to guide you in taking time to examine your own practices. With concrete examples, easy-to-implement strategies, this critical book helps readers put theory into practice while providing essential support for individuals and groups both new to and experienced with trauma-responsive practices in early childhood
Supporting Young Children to Cope, Build Resilience and Heal from Trauma through Play: A Practical Guide for Early Childhood Educators
Now more than ever, there is a need for early childhood professionals to comprehensively integrate trauma- sensitive practices into their work with children and families. This essen- tial resource offers instructional strategies teachers can use daily to support their students dealing with trauma in early learning environments. Readers will learn to create opportunities for children to use their natural language— play— to reduce their stress, to cope with adversity, to build resilience, and even to heal from trauma. Nicholson and Kurtz provide vignettes, case study examples, textboxes, photographs, and descriptions of adapted therapeutic strategies ready for implementation in the classroom. Practical and comprehensive, this book is ideal for both prospective and veteran early childhood educators seeking to understand trauma- informed practices when working with young children (birth– 8) in a range of environments.
Culturally Responsive Self-Care Practices for Early Childhood Educators
The first self-care book designed specifically for the early childhood field, Culturally Responsive Self-Care Practices for Early Childhood Educators, is filled with helpful strategies and tools that you can implement immediately. Recognizing that self-care is not one-size-fits-all, the authors present culturally responsive strategies drawn from diverse early childhood staff working in a range of roles across communities and contexts. By tying the importance of educator self-care to goals of social justice and equity, this book advocates for increased awareness of the importance of self-care on both an individual and institutional level. Through key research findings, effective strategies and personal anecdotes, this accessible guide emphasizes that self-care and wellness-oriented practices that support educators’ health and well-being are critical foundations of high quality early learning programs.
Culturally Responsive Tier 3 Interventions for Elementary Students: A Practical Guide for Teachers and Leaders
How can elementary school leaders support students with intensive behavioral and socio-emotional needs? Use culturally responsive Tier 3 interventions. This practical guide empowers elementary school principals, teachers, and district leaders to move beyond reactive crisis management toward equitable, individualized support systems. By integrating the frontline experience of school administrators with research-based, culturally proficient, healing-centered, and trauma-responsive practice, the authors provide a definitive roadmap for creating success for our most high-needs students using the Cultural Proficiency, Healing Centered and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) frameworks. Written by a multidisciplinary team of nationally recognized experts, this resource is designed for schools that are committed to building systems that meet students where they are and scaffold a pathway to success. Through authentic case studies spanning Pre-K to 5th grade, you will learn how to transform campus communities and school-level policies to champion the students who challenge traditional systems the most. This professional development resource bridges the gap between believing in equity and facilitating daily practices that actually produce equitable outcomes. It offers actionable strategies for fostering student agency and social-emotional growth, ensuring that intensive interventions remain student-centered and culturally competent for diverse school communities. Book Features: Three Tiers of Actionable Strategies: Provides concrete steps for intensive behavioral and socio-emotional supports all framed through culturally responsive, healing-centered, and trauma-informed lenses. Authentic Pre-K–5 Case Studies: Features real-world scenarios that allow educators to apply research and evidence-based interventions to specific behavioral challenges. Multidisciplinary Insights: Integrates contemporary research with the expertise of educators and mental health professionals to support the whole child. Inclusive Early Childhood Focus: Includes dedicated strategies for preschool-aged children, addressing a critical need for elementary leaders’ increasing responsibility to supervise early childhood classrooms. Implementation Tools: Includes reproducible templates and access to a free PDF companion workbook designed to facilitate individual and team reflection and school-wide planning.
Books for Children
Beautifully illustrated stories that teach children about emotions, resilience, and the brain-body connection
Understanding My Brain: Becoming Human(E)!
A children's book by Julie Kurtz for ages 4-10 that helps kids understand their brain and emotions.
Entendiendo Mi Cerebro Convirtiéndome en un Ser Humanitario y Compasivo!
A medida que aprendo más sobre cómo funciona mi cerebro, puedo tomar mejores decisiones para estar saludable, sentirme seguro y encontrar la calma.
"We have been using this book in our counseling center here in South Africa and it is such a valuable resource."
"I have been using your book in my classroom for the past few years now and my students LOVE it. It has ignited some amazing conversations and is very empowering. I do a huge amount of mindfulness activities as a part of my Social and Emotional curriculum and your book has become a huge part of that learning time."
Explore More Books by Julie Kurtz
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