The "Squirrely" Class: Why it’s not your fault (or your students’)

Today we’re in Sally’s classroom. She loves hands-on learning and has a high tolerance for “squirreliness,” but what happens when squirreliness turns into outright chaos? One thing that happened for Sally was merciless self-blame that was so intense she actually considered quitting teaching. Sound familiar?Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discuss:* Systemic Failure vs Guilt: Understanding why “squirrely” behavior can be a result of the environment instead of a teacher’s lack of skill or a student’s lack of character* Finding Common Ground: Strategies for aligning teacher expectations with student reality* Behavior Communication: Unpacking the “why” behind the fidgeting, talking back, and disengagement* Defining the Space: How to create a classroom that feels safe and predictable enough for high energy* Radical Empathy: Why emotional and structural “hugging” is the solution to a fractured classroomGot a story to share? As always, scan your body for sources of sadness, frustration, anger, and fear in your teaching. Leave me a voicemail at (413) 239-4158 and we might feature your perspective in a future episode! It’s quite possible I can help relieve you from unnecessary suffering. Only a click away.Support the Show: If this conversation resonated, please consider leaving a rating or review on your podcast app. Your feedback helps others find us.Get full access to the community: [www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe]CreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionMusic: Thom Burris/Jabbering TroutTeaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.teachingthroughemotions.com/subscribe