Children Exposed to Community Violence: A Case Study Examining How Preschool Teachers Provide a Safe Environment for the Children in their Classroom

The purpose of this case study is to examine how preschool teachers within an urban classroom collaborate with each other to create a safe learning environment for the children in their class who have been exposed to community violence. The participants for this study include preschool children (ages 3-5 years) and their head teacher and director in an urban preschool classroom situated in a community that experiences a high level of community violence. Data were collected through participant observations, semi-structured interviews, and reflective conversations with the head teacher and director. The data analyzed looked for evidence of the teacher's knowledge of the effects of trauma on children's learning and development and the application of this knowledge to her curriculum, pedagogy, and environment planning. Findings included: looking at the different types of family units within the program; observing the various behaviors exhibited by the children, such as withdrawal, and aggression; and noting how these children are supported by their teachers and classroom environment. This study makes an important contribution to the literature by providing a contextualized example of how teachers can create safe classrooms to support children who have been exposed to traumas due to community violence.