To Care or To Detach? Finding the emotional balance in teaching

As y’all probably know, I’m a big fan of caring in education. But, thanks to today’s guest, Rachel Branham, a veteran Teacher Support Group participant who’s now working in higher education, we get to consider the downsides of caring, too. What if you’re not a particularly “squishy” person? What if you don’t want to be “in the shit” with your students all the time? What does caring look like for you? How does a natural inclination to detach serve you and your students?Teaching through Emotions is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.This is such a fun and stimulating conversation! Applicable to anyone who, well, cares. I hope you enjoy it!Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.We discuss* Caring vs. Controlling: Sliding along the continuum between “squishy” teaching and detachment.* Alienation from Big Emotions: When students are joyous or chaotic, feeling outside of their world and not knowing what to do about it.* Students’ (and Teachers’) Psychological Needs: Do all students need or want to be seen? How can teachers love students who are causing them pain?* Setting Boundaries: When and how do you tamp down exuberance when students are “coloring outside the lines”? Where are those “magical lines” in the first place?Connect & ShareGot a story to share? How do you balance care with detachment? How do you find and navigate the “magical line” between them? I’d love to hear! Leave me a voicemail at (413) 239-4158 and we might feature your perspective in a future episode!Or, if you’re a millennial and hate using the phone (like Rachel), send me an email! [email protected] 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/subscribeExternal linksRadical Love: Rethinking care and professional love in the classroomPedagogy Basics: What educators can learn from early childhood teachersDream Keepers: Comic EditionCreditsFounder and Host: Betsy BurrisCo-Host: Joe JohnsonProducer: Jullian Androkae of PodVisionAudience Development: Andreea Coscai of PodVisionMusic: Tom 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