Can empathy and understanding truly transform a classroom environment? Today we hear from Judy Cuevas, an experienced educator and coach, who shares her invaluable insights on creating emotionally supportive classrooms. Judy opens up about her personal journey and the key elements that foster a positive climate, teacher sensitivity, and regard for child perspectives. Get ready to discover practical tips that will empower you to recognize and respond to children's cues, laying the foundation for a safe and engaging learning space.

In this episode, we also shed light on the significance of cozy, quiet areas where children can decompress and reflect—an often-overlooked aspect of emotional well-being. Judy discusses how these spaces can serve both students and educators, providing a respite from the daily stresses of classroom life. Plus, we dive into strategies for educators to better understand and support their students' emotional needs through curiosity, self-reflection, and modeling behavior.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

• [00:00:00] Introduction
• [00:01:06] Why emotional support matters
• [00:02:01] Judy’s background
• [00:03:58] How Judy would describe emotional support
• [00:05:00] What kinds of things happen in classrooms with great emotional support
• [00:07:22] How to look for children’s cues
• [00:10:12] Supporting teachers in self-reflection
• [00:13:58] Setting the scene for building emotional support in a classroom
• [00:16:26] Starting the school year off on a good in a good pathway for emotional support
• [00:19:35] Ways to connect with new students and start building a relationship
• [00:22:42] The importance of asking children about their feelings rather than making assumptions
• [00:24:28] One thing a new or experienced teacher could try at the start of the new school year
• [00:25:46] Implementing self-reflection a couple of times a day
• [00:26:39] Modeling the behavior you want to teach and looking for what else you can learn
• [00:28:14] What Judy wants educators to know

Resources

Kate Cline

Judy Cuevas