Research shows that childhood trauma is both pervasive and often invisible. Teachers can help students who have experienced trauma, writes Alex Shevrin Venet, an expert in trauma-informed education, by emphasizing social and emotional learning (SEL) for all students because SEL practices “boost academic success, decrease disruptive behavior, and reduce emotional distress in the long term.” To help teachers approach this work, Venet describes three important points she gathered from teachers from around the country. 1. Recognize signs of trauma: “With so much pain in the classroom,” Venet notes, “educators should be mindful that traumatic life experiences can sometimes emerge as behaviors that we might otherwise label as challenging.” Whether students are acting out or retreating, their trauma-induced behaviors can interfere with academic success. When teachers know the various signs of trauma, they’re armed to meet students’ emotional and academic needs—and marshal the help of others...