Date Submitted
7-16-2026
Faculty Advisor
Amy Sickel
Abstract
In the United States, it is estimated that one in 11 children will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the age of 18. The death of a parent, or primary attachment figure, is recognized as one of the most disruptive adversities a child may experience. Children who are grieving may exhibit significant behavioral changes, psychological difficulties, social problems, and lower educational attainment. Despite the amount of loss experienced by children, childhood grief is disregarded in the education system. 70 percent of teachers report having at least one grieving student in the classroom. Yet, seven percent of teachers report receiving training on grief and bereavement. This research study aimed to evaluate whether a childhood grief professional development seminar (PDS) increased teachers’ self-reported knowledge and confidence when supporting grieving students in the classroom. The teachers viewed an asynchronous, virtual PDS and completed a pre-test, post-test, and follow-up measure. Teachers were also asked to provide feedback following the PDS to aid in the evaluation of the training and to identify whether the content was retained or utilized three-months after the training. 37 participants completed the pre-test and post-test measure, and 13 of those participants completed the follow-up measure. In the current study, teachers indicated that childhood grief is a significant problem that warrants more attention within the education system. 97.3 percent of the teachers in this study reported having at least one grieving student in their classroom per year, while almost half had never received formalized training on grief. The findings suggest that viewing an asynchronous, virtual PDS is an effective method for increasing elementary teachers’ knowledge on how to support grieving students within their classroom. Overall, the current study highlights the need for equipping elementary school teachers with the knowledge and skills to support the 6.6 million students who experience the significant death of a loved one each year.
