Class Description - Express: Letting Go: Making Sense of Grief & Loss (8.21.26-8.20.27)

Date: Register anytime between August 21, 2026 - August 20, 2027
Course #: LR 288:732
Number of License Renewal Credit Hours: 3
Registration Deadline: Last day to register is Friday, August 20th 2027 by 5:00 p.m.

How it Works:
Participants will have at least 2 full months after registration to complete their course.

Examples:

Register FEBRUARY 1ST and start the course as soon as your registration has been processed.
You will have until APRIL 30TH to complete the class.
Register FEBRUARY 25TH and start the course as soon as your registration has been processed.
You will have until APRIL 30TH to complete the class.

Students must monitor their progress and finish the course at the end of 2 months after registration.
If there is a problem, or any questions, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the instructor.

Course Description:

All of us suffer. In our walk-through life, we face tragedy, destruction, and devastation. We face loss and failed hopes and dreams, and we ask ourselves, “What if?" What if we hadn't taken that road, would our journey be easier or better? Are we to blame or does the universe hate us? For most people, the worst thing to experience is the death of a loved one. As adults, we question ourselves and ask, "Why are we here?" The complexities of death can overwhelm us as grown-ups. They can annihilate children and cause trauma that lasts a lifetime.

This class covers the process of grief and how it impacts children. We cannot discuss children without discussing adults as we explore the relationship between death and us. Topics such as how to help ourselves cope with death and how to help children cope with death will be explored by age groups. Information will be shared on how one might approach and support a child - perhaps a student - who has lost someone significant in their life. We will discuss violence and its ever-growing role in the lives of our children. The benefits of therapy dogs will be explored. We will also look at how our belief systems can help us through grief and what to say and not say to a grieving person.

Required Text:

All materials provided online

Outcomes and Objectives:
By the end of the course, participants will...

1. Understand what grief is.
2. Understand how each age group should be talked to and with about grief.
3. Understand how to help children grieve.
4. Understand how to talk with kids about school shootings.
5. Understand how to talk with kids about violence and homicide.
6. Understand how different situations should be handled when someone dies.
7. Understand how to get back to normal after death.
8. Understanding the role faith plays in grief.
9. Understanding the rituals of death.

Course Topics that Support Instructional Practices and Strategies:

*When Bad Things Happen to Good People
*What is Grief?
*What Brings Grief to Our Door
*Adults & Grief: Caring for the Body & Spirit
*Children & Grief: Helping Children Grieve
*Factors that affect the Way Children Grieve
*Grieving & Mourning
*Talking to Kids about Violence/Homicide
*Talking to Kids about School Shootings
*Supporting Students after Violence
*What Adults Should Say
*When a student dies
*When a teacher/staff member dies
*Getting back to normal
*Grief & Faith
*Finding the Right Words
*The Sanctity of Life

Instructor Methods and Course Design:
This is a 3-credit hour Iowa license renewal course. Course goals will be met through the instructor-designed lesson, supplemental readings, videos, reflections, and assignments.

How Does This Course Support the Iowa Core?
Students need to be supported during times of bereavement. Suffering the loss of a loved one can devastate a child, and educators need to understand how to support the student and provide constructive, positive ways to cope. Grief impacts learning, social-emotional relationships, self-esteem, and confidence. Teachers need to understand how to help the grieving student. Too often, children can get stuck in grief and cannot find their way out. This class will provide the participant with ways to help the grieving child while, at the same time, assisting with their own personal grief.

Students who are supported at school and are resilient are more capable academically and behaviorally and have the impetus to go to college or post-secondary education. Teachers who are responsive to grieving children can motivate themselves and their students and can enjoy teaching.

Students and teachers who build strong, healthy relationships are better at critical thinking, and problem-solving, and are more curious and willing to take on leadership roles. They also work well with others. Research has shown that good coping skills during times of sorrow help with executive functioning skills and provides students with a way to cope in this complex world.

This falls in line with the Iowa Core that states school preparation should produce the following:

Students who are college and career ready in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language.
Students who are proficient in English, language arts, history, social studies, science, and technical subjects in all grade levels.
Students who are proficient in 21st century skills such as critical thinking/problem solving, curiosity, collaboration and leadership.

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**Important Registration Information for You**
Please read through as these are Frequently Asked Questions in which answers can be found within this page.

1. The instructor will email you once the start date arrives with information on how to get started in the class.

Emails regarding this class will come from the instructor/organization with an email address ending in professional.development@educateteachers.org;
Be sure to check your junk/spam/clutter folders-mailboxes in case the email address isn't recognized as a known address; and
IF YOU ARE USING A SCHOOL EMAIL ADDRESS, many schools have their network security filters set up to push unknown emails directly to spam and you will not even see it - if this is the case you will need to either talk to your IT department and request emails with the email address be allowed through or let us know you want to use a different email address.

2. The Tabs at the top of the registration page have important additional information regarding this class:

The Syllabus gives information of what will be expected of you in the course. Generally, it will include course policies, rules and regulations, required texts, and a schedule of assignments;
The Fees will let you know how much this class will cost depending on the type of credit you want to take it for as well as if you are an ISEA member or not;
The Cancellation Policy is important so you know how to cancel if you need to and how refunds are handled; and
The ISEA Official Transcript page tells you how to access your transcript once the class has ended.