How Are You Feeling?
We all know what it feels like when someone takes the time to check in on us- to ask how we are doing and to really listen to the answer. Daily check-in’s with our students provide the opportunity to make them feel seen and heard. Along with building the social-emotional competency of self-awareness, check-in’s also build trusting and caring learning environments.
There are various tools available to help facilitate a check-in activity (more about that in an upcoming blog), but checking in can be as simple as taking a few minutes for every student to choose and share two words that best describe how they are feeling. Asking them to choose two words acknowledges that we can feel two different emotions at the same time.
Some educators have voiced their apprehension about students sharing difficult emotions. What if a student says they are feeling lonely and sad or angry and scared? It can be difficult to hear anyone share painful emotions. But here are some things to consider:Not asking does not mean that your students aren’t feeling these difficult emotions! Those emotions will be present whether you ask or not. Articulating emotions often mitigates their effect on us. Sometimes simply voicing the emotion and feeling heard can lessen its intensity. You aren’t responsible to “fix” the emotion. Your job is just to listen, acknowledge, and support.If a child or teen does verbalize difficult or painful emotions, you can follow up later and ask: What can I do to support you right now? When you felt this way before, what helped?
As educators we recognize that every learner - and teacher- brings their whole selves into each and every learning experience. They don’t leave their emotions at the door. We also know that emotions are prime motivators of behavior- they affect what and how we learn, and how we interact with others. Given this, there is simply no benefit in ignoring how our students and teachers are feeling. Let’s make checking in with our students and each other a regular practice. So, what are two words that best describe how you are feeling right now?
