How You Feel Effects Those Around You
It has been shown time and time again that a persons feelings, especially when in front of an audience, can move and effect them to feel the same way- even subconsciously.
If a teacher is nervous- students will feel nervous of the outcome.
If a teacher is scared- also know the students will be worried about what is to come as well.
If a teacher is relaxed and happily flows through their lessons with an air of confidence- students will have feelings of confidence and comfort in their teacher as well. In a way, it create a way for students to be able to trust their teachers more.
If a teacher is nervous- students will feel nervous of the outcome.
If a teacher is scared- also know the students will be worried about what is to come as well.
If a teacher is relaxed and happily flows through their lessons with an air of confidence- students will have feelings of confidence and comfort in their teacher as well. In a way, it create a way for students to be able to trust their teachers more.
How Students Feel Effects How Well They Can Do
Some people will go as far as to say that a students emotional situation does not effect the way they learn. This is simply not true. Time has shown that students who feel happy, safe, and secure with their teacher tend to be able to relax more to focus on work and lessons.
While emotions allow a person to work and learn effectively when they are completely comfortable with the material, it has also been shown that emotions can get in the way of learning (Darling-Hammond et al).
If students are overexcited or enthusiastic they could work in a careless manner and not take all the precautions to get every detail correct.
Emotions such as anger, anxiety, and sadness get in the way with the learning process making students have a hard time concentrating with the task on hand.
A students emotions might even get in the way of participating for fear of incompetence. They can also react poorly to bad test grades making future assignments and test grades become poorer and poorer.
Luckily students are able to develop skills to diminish adverse affects of emotions in school!
Self-Awareness of emotions: If a student is able to tell when and why they feel a certain way they will be more comfortable in their ability to control their emotions. Teachers could help students realize how they feel when they come in situations where someone or something else is causing them to have some sort of change in emotion. Instead of saying "He was mean" have them change the statement to "I feel upset because..." (Darling-hammond et al).
Managing emotions: This is the next step after self-awareness. Students can be taught to have more patience in certain situations making them more emotionally mature.
Self-Motivation: This is another skill that is helpful especially in times when a student has setbacks that could possibly demotivate themselves. This is the ability to push forward with a positive attitude no matter what. As teachers we can create a good foundation for learning this by motivating our students too (as we should anyways!).
Empathy: This is the art of learning and understanding how others around you feel. This creates a sense of respect for other students and helps make the classroom a more comfortable place for everyone. When students also care for each other it is easier for things to happen. Teachers can help students learn empathy by encouraging students to remember what it was like to be in a similar situation then the person being affected.
All these skills work together!
The skills listed above help foster good relationships. Positive relationships in school generally lead to positive academic achievement. People who learn how to hone these social skills become team players and team builders which is even more useful outside of the classroom for teams or even jobs in life beyond school. That is why emotions in the classroom are so important.
Foster an Emotionally Safe Learning Environment
Affirm student accomplishments in a noncompetitive way to make them all feel special as individuals. Always encourage students to take risks without fear of the possibility of failure (we learn from mistakes after all). Give thoughtful feedback that will help them to learn more. Respect and care for your students and their well-being. All of these things help build up a room where students can feel safe to grow emotionally and intellectually.
While emotions allow a person to work and learn effectively when they are completely comfortable with the material, it has also been shown that emotions can get in the way of learning (Darling-Hammond et al).
If students are overexcited or enthusiastic they could work in a careless manner and not take all the precautions to get every detail correct.
Emotions such as anger, anxiety, and sadness get in the way with the learning process making students have a hard time concentrating with the task on hand.
A students emotions might even get in the way of participating for fear of incompetence. They can also react poorly to bad test grades making future assignments and test grades become poorer and poorer.
Luckily students are able to develop skills to diminish adverse affects of emotions in school!
Self-Awareness of emotions: If a student is able to tell when and why they feel a certain way they will be more comfortable in their ability to control their emotions. Teachers could help students realize how they feel when they come in situations where someone or something else is causing them to have some sort of change in emotion. Instead of saying "He was mean" have them change the statement to "I feel upset because..." (Darling-hammond et al).
Managing emotions: This is the next step after self-awareness. Students can be taught to have more patience in certain situations making them more emotionally mature.
Self-Motivation: This is another skill that is helpful especially in times when a student has setbacks that could possibly demotivate themselves. This is the ability to push forward with a positive attitude no matter what. As teachers we can create a good foundation for learning this by motivating our students too (as we should anyways!).
Empathy: This is the art of learning and understanding how others around you feel. This creates a sense of respect for other students and helps make the classroom a more comfortable place for everyone. When students also care for each other it is easier for things to happen. Teachers can help students learn empathy by encouraging students to remember what it was like to be in a similar situation then the person being affected.
All these skills work together!
The skills listed above help foster good relationships. Positive relationships in school generally lead to positive academic achievement. People who learn how to hone these social skills become team players and team builders which is even more useful outside of the classroom for teams or even jobs in life beyond school. That is why emotions in the classroom are so important.
Foster an Emotionally Safe Learning Environment
Affirm student accomplishments in a noncompetitive way to make them all feel special as individuals. Always encourage students to take risks without fear of the possibility of failure (we learn from mistakes after all). Give thoughtful feedback that will help them to learn more. Respect and care for your students and their well-being. All of these things help build up a room where students can feel safe to grow emotionally and intellectually.
Spiritual Relevance
Isaiah 40:11 says: "He will tend his flock like a Shepard; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young". A Shepard cannot be successful without the control of his emotions. He too, if scared, will cause the whole flock to be scared too! Thus he must be strong. We as teachers are the Shepard's of students and should lead them through everything!