Dealing with tragedy in a young persons life is a very difficult process. I feel very inadequate at this point to say that I have any idea of how to deal with it. I think I can always say that above all else students want to be listened to. Sometimes not knowing what to say and not saying anything at all is the perfect response. Students should feel supported and comforted. Knowing your students is key. Many kids might not want to talk about something that is really bothering them at school with other kids around while other students may feel like they need to talk about tragedy in order to deal with it. Teachers should try to cultivate a atmosphere of acceptance in their classrooms so that if a tragedy does take place students feel safe around their peers. Age appropriateness is also important. One can know if the subject matter is appropriate by determining how sensative the subject matter is and how mature the students are. If students are mature enough to enter into meeningful and balanced dialog, they are probably mature enough to handle it, but if talking about the subject causes students to clam up, become upset, or get angry it is likly that the topic or teaching moment is not appropriate
These are the ideas I have about how teachers should deal with tragedy in the classroom, but I have many questions concerning this. I would aprreciate any idea related to this subject.