Abstract
In the United States alone, over 2 million (or a little more than 3%) of children are estimated to face the death of a parent before they turn 18 (Goodman, 2006)! The numbers only grow when the death of a grandparent, relative, sibling, or classmate are included. Death is a very real and lasting event. Most of these children will have to return to life as it was before in some way or another. For most of these children, that means returning to school. Sadly, in a teacher's undergraduate education they receive little or no formal training in how to help a child deal with tragedy or the death of a loved one. This leaves a major gap in a teacher's knowledge of how to help and of what they can do. The aim of this small study was to help bridge those gaps. In the study elementary school teachers, parents or caregivers of students who had lost a loved one while in elementary school and students who were grieving the loss of a loved one while in elementary school were recruited and asked to share about their experiences and personal knowledge of grieving in an elementary school setting. These participants were asked to answer a short survey and share their thoughts and feelings. Through surveys and interviews the researcher found that most students and parents were satisfied with the naturally response of teacher who intervened in students' lives during a time of grief. Communication was reported by all entities to be the most effective way to help; communication between home and school and between the teacher and the grieving student. From the responses of teachers, caregivers and students a quick reference guild was created that teachers can use in the classroom when they have a grieving student.
Notes
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Thesis Completion
2013
Semester
Spring
Advisor
Roberts, Sherron Killingsworth
Degree
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
College
College of Education
Department
Teaching, Learning, and Leadership
Subjects
Dissertations, Academic -- Education;Education -- Dissertations, Academic
Format
Identifier
CFH0004454
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus-only Access
None
Document Type
Honors in the Major Thesis
Recommended Citation
Corrigan, Caitlin, "How to help a teacher's guide to helping grieving elementary students in the classroom" (2013). HIM 1990-2015. 1393.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses1990-2015/1393