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 The current divorce rate is estimated to be at approximately 50% in America. The distribution of the rate divorce is uneven across the different age ranges, however, there is still an enormous amount of divorces occurring every year. Being teachers in the classroom, it is inevitable that we will have students whose parents are divorced or in the process of getting a divorce. It is key that we help the children understand that actions of their parents is not there fault. A large amount of children whose parents are divorce feel that it is their fault that the divorce has occurred. While in our classroom, we should make sure that we provide a positive setting for these students and help them during this difficult process.
 * DIVORCE in the CLASSROOM **

**Students whose parents are going through a divorce may have increased amounts of: ANGER ANXIETY SHOCK DEPRESSION**

**What you can do to help children cope**: 1) Reassurance will help kids heal. Let your students know that they are loved by there parents, regardless of the circumstances. Kids should know that they can continue to have relationships with both parents, just under different boundaries. As a teacher, helping your students see this or even working with their parents towards this, can increase their child's ability to cope with the situation.

2) Allow your students to express how they feel, the best way that they can. Whether through verbal communication or via pictures or stories, be available to listen to your students. When they are comfortable enough to express themselves, their feelings may get validated, and this will help them cope with the situation even more.

3) Children need to have stability. They may only receive this in your classroom. Provide this for them. They need and appreciate the order because it allows them to feel safe and know what is coming or expected. This stability will ease the process of coping with the situation.

**Resources** http://www.kidsturncentral.com/topics/issues/divorce.htm This site is great for parents, teachers, and children. It is filled with books about the subject, activities to help students cope, and safe websites that students could visit for themselves.

http://teacher.scholastic.com/professional/bruceperry/working_children.htm This site is great for teachers! It is an article that offers advice and guidelines for working with children that have been through traumatic events. Although some may disagree, divorce is a traumatic event for most children at any age.

http://www.itsnotyourfault.org/How_to_cope.html An informative site that your students can visit. The resources on it help reinforce the fact that they should not blame themselves and how to cope with the situation.

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