Waiting for Mr. Rogers ... What Can This Student Teach Me?

Are you an educator who finds yourself triggered by a person, event or action? Self-awareness has a profound impact on the teaching journey when we empower educators to reflect on the why behind their triggers. Our past experiences often shape the way we interact with our students. If we uncover the roots, we can respond to our students with greater empathy, patience, and understanding. Wysteria shares specific experiences that forced her to have an aha moment and change her perspective entirely. We can create safe spaces where students' emotions are not only valued but deeply understood, fostering an atmosphere of trust and growth. How do we teach and normalize conversations about feelings so they become natural and accepted from K - 12? How do we make this a part of our classroom routine every day so students learn to listen and respond to each other with empathy? As we build stronger, more compassionate connections with our students, we enrich both their educational experience and our own. What did Mr. Rogers have to teach us?