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Letting Go:
Making Sense of Grief & Loss
3 credit hour Iowa license renewal course (What's this?)
Course Dates: November 15th to December 29th
(Registration starts soon!)
(Registration starts soon!)
All of us suffer. In our walk through life, we face tragedy, destruction, devastation. We face loss and failed hopes and dreams and we ask ourselves, “What if?” What if we hadn’t taken that road, would our journey be easier or better? Are we to blame or does the universe hate us? For most people, the worst thing to experience is the death of a loved one. As adults we question ourselves and ask, “Why are we here?” The complexities of death can overwhelm us as grown-ups. They can annihilate children and cause trauma that lasts a lifetime.
This class covers the process of grief and how it impacts children. We cannot discuss children without discussing adults as we explore the relationship between death and us. Topics such as how to help ourselves cope with death and how to help children cope with death will be explored by age groups. Information will be shared on how one might approach and support a child, perhaps a student, who has lost someone significant in their lives. We will discuss violence and its ever growing role in the lives of our children. The benefits of therapy dogs will be explored. We will also look at how our belief systems can help us through grief and what to say and not say to a grieving person.
This class covers the process of grief and how it impacts children. We cannot discuss children without discussing adults as we explore the relationship between death and us. Topics such as how to help ourselves cope with death and how to help children cope with death will be explored by age groups. Information will be shared on how one might approach and support a child, perhaps a student, who has lost someone significant in their lives. We will discuss violence and its ever growing role in the lives of our children. The benefits of therapy dogs will be explored. We will also look at how our belief systems can help us through grief and what to say and not say to a grieving person.
Organization
This course is presented in a modified, self-paced format. Participants are expected to access the course and post regularly (at least once a week) and make reasonable progress, but there are no due dates attached to individual assignments. Instead there are 2 absolute due dates (mid-term and the last day of class) to provide flexibility and to better accommodate participants' busy schedules.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will...
1. Understand what grief is.
2. Understand how each age group should be talked to and with about grief.
3. Understand how to help children grieve.
4. Understand how to talk with kids about school shootings.
5. Understand how to talk with kids about violence and homicide.
6. Understand how different situations should be handled when someone dies.
7. Understand how to get back to normal after a death.
8. Understanding the role faith plays in grief.
9. Understanding the rituals of death.
How Does This Course Support The Iowa Core?
Students need to be supported during times of bereavement. Suffering the loss of a loved one can devastate a child and educators need to understand how to support the student and provide constructive, positive ways to cope. Grief impacts learning, social emotional relationships and self-esteem and confidence. Teachers need to understand how to help the grieving student. Too often, children can get stuck in grief and cannot find their way out. This class will provide the participant with ways to help the grieving child while, at the same time, assisting with their own personal grief.
Students who are supported at school and are resilient are more capable academically and behaviorally and have the impetus to go to college or post-secondary education. Teachers who are responsive to the grieving child are able to motivate themselves and their students and are able to enjoy teaching.
Students and teachers who build strong, healthy relationships are better at critical thinking, problem solving, are more curious and willing to take on leadership roles. They also work well with others. Research has shown that good coping skills during times of sorrow help with executive functioning skills and provide students with a way to cope in this complex world.
This falls in line with the Iowa Core that states school preparation should produce the following:
1. Students who are college and career ready in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language.
2. Students who are proficient in English, language arts, history, social studies, science, and technical subjects in all grade levels.
3. Students who are proficient in 21st century skills such as critical thinking/problem solving, curiosity, collaboration and leadership.
Course Topics
Students must have physically and mentally healthy educators that strive to make learning enjoyable and meaningful. Educators must be in top form:
Grading
This is a 3 credit hour Iowa license renewal only course. Grading is Pass/Fail. Students are required to participate in and complete all assignments and/or activities. Participants must earn scores of 80% or better to receive Pass score and receive credit.
Required Materials
All materials are provided online.
This course is presented in a modified, self-paced format. Participants are expected to access the course and post regularly (at least once a week) and make reasonable progress, but there are no due dates attached to individual assignments. Instead there are 2 absolute due dates (mid-term and the last day of class) to provide flexibility and to better accommodate participants' busy schedules.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will...
1. Understand what grief is.
2. Understand how each age group should be talked to and with about grief.
3. Understand how to help children grieve.
4. Understand how to talk with kids about school shootings.
5. Understand how to talk with kids about violence and homicide.
6. Understand how different situations should be handled when someone dies.
7. Understand how to get back to normal after a death.
8. Understanding the role faith plays in grief.
9. Understanding the rituals of death.
How Does This Course Support The Iowa Core?
Students need to be supported during times of bereavement. Suffering the loss of a loved one can devastate a child and educators need to understand how to support the student and provide constructive, positive ways to cope. Grief impacts learning, social emotional relationships and self-esteem and confidence. Teachers need to understand how to help the grieving student. Too often, children can get stuck in grief and cannot find their way out. This class will provide the participant with ways to help the grieving child while, at the same time, assisting with their own personal grief.
Students who are supported at school and are resilient are more capable academically and behaviorally and have the impetus to go to college or post-secondary education. Teachers who are responsive to the grieving child are able to motivate themselves and their students and are able to enjoy teaching.
Students and teachers who build strong, healthy relationships are better at critical thinking, problem solving, are more curious and willing to take on leadership roles. They also work well with others. Research has shown that good coping skills during times of sorrow help with executive functioning skills and provide students with a way to cope in this complex world.
This falls in line with the Iowa Core that states school preparation should produce the following:
1. Students who are college and career ready in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language.
2. Students who are proficient in English, language arts, history, social studies, science, and technical subjects in all grade levels.
3. Students who are proficient in 21st century skills such as critical thinking/problem solving, curiosity, collaboration and leadership.
Course Topics
Students must have physically and mentally healthy educators that strive to make learning enjoyable and meaningful. Educators must be in top form:
- When Bad Things Happen to Good People
- What is Grief?
- What Brings Grief to Our Door
- Adults & Grief: Caring for the Body & Spirit
- Children & Grief: Helping Children Grieve
- Factors that affect the Way Children Grieve
- Grieving & Mourning; Prolonged Grief Disorder
- Talking to Kids about Violence/Homicide
- Talking to Kids about School Shootings
- Supporting Students after Violence
- What Adults Should Say
- When a student dies
- When a teacher/staff member dies
- Getting back to normal
- Grief & Faith
- Finding the Right Words
- The Sanctity of Life
Grading
This is a 3 credit hour Iowa license renewal only course. Grading is Pass/Fail. Students are required to participate in and complete all assignments and/or activities. Participants must earn scores of 80% or better to receive Pass score and receive credit.
Required Materials
All materials are provided online.