Have you ever considered the connection between violence at home and how a student acts and participates in the classroom?
Often we don’t see what students, friends or colleagues face at home, and bring with them to work, the classroom or social gatherings. Without knowing what takes place at home, we may misjudge someone’s actions or decisions.
This is Family Violence Awareness Week across the NWT, and a good opportunity to think about how family violence can impact learning, both for children and adults. Family violence may have been part of a learner’s life from childhood through adulthood, and they may currently experience it.
It can be hard to recognize and address the effects of the violence with your learners. But adult educators can learn the signs, and ways to support learners. Students may, for instance, not simply be unmotivated or unskilled. Understanding some of the impacts of violence, and how to support students will help you to help your students be successful.
The NWT Literacy Council was happy to work with Jenny Horseman of the Spiral Community Resource Group to create and publish six Violence and Learning Information sheets. These sheets explore different ways that violence impacts learners, and the extra struggles violence may cause.
Adult learners come with years of experiences, both positive and negative. Just as it is important to use the positive experiences adult learners come with in the classroom, it’s important to recognize, and respect the lingering and unpredictable impacts of negative experiences, such a family violence.
Now is a good time to look at the information sheets and think about how you can support an adult learner who has experienced violence.
Go further. Take action against Family Violence, and participate in the Family Violence Awareness Week events in your community.
-- Katie Johnson
