Episode 47: Climate literacy and resilience

With Andra Yeghoian of Ten Strands and the California Environmental Literacy Initiative

What does a trauma-informed classroom look like? How does trauma relate the climate crisis? Why is it important to implement a solutions-based approach to teaching climate change? Andra Yeghoian takes us on a deep dive of her work, including the 4-Cs framework (campus, curriculum, community, and culture) and the HEARTS framework, while also sharing examples activities and learning sessions that incorporate a trauma-informed approach. Environmental crises can be overwhelming, yet we can help students manage them by facing the various challenge head-on (in a developmentally appropriate way) and empowering students to take action.

Guest (from https://tenstrands.org/about/team/):

Andra Yeghoian brings more than 15 years of experience in education across public and private school systems, nationally and internationally. She currently provides visionary leadership for a California-wide whole systems approach to integrating environmental and climate literacy, and sustainable and climate resilient school efforts, across a school community’s campus, curriculum, community, and culture. Andra is also the California Environmental Literacy Initiative Project Director. She holds a B.A. and education credentials from UC Davis, and an MBA from Presidio Graduate School. Under her leadership, she has supported school sites, districts, and county offices in achieving honors such as the U.S. Department of Education and California Green Ribbon Award, Bay Area Green Business Certification, and LEED Platinum Certification for New Buildings.

Environmental and Climate Aligned Trauma Informed Practices for Educators and Schools: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-ar77-Eo7SnLVIh35C4cBzG_pAw6kinklkU9_tnju30/edit

Solutionary and Environmental Books Examples: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tsHXi90hCEwnTW3zwC1y71KNCFYk5cdRmGj7yy-cxUU/edit

Environmental and Climate Responsive Crosswalk for Trauma Informed Schools: https://docs.google.com/document/d/18Ja-cp1kWOOvhyKhEliAePLX6l40hBJp8kUbhyzTB5Q/edit

4Cs Sustainable and Climate-Resilient Schools Framework: https://sites.google.com/view/scrs-center/vision-and-framework/4cs-framework

*Episode edited by M. Angel Goñi Avila