Little Talks for Teaching Assistants - Teaching Empathy Institute
Teaching Empathy Institute works to establish emotionally and physically safe learning communities for elementary, middle and high school students and the adults who work with them. Working in the Hudson Valley of New York, TEI creates tailor-made programs designed to foster dialogue about social culture building while strengthening the capacity for the infusion of empathy and compassion into all aspects of the learning experience.
Teaching Empathy Institute, SEL, Social and emotional learning, mindfulness, diversity, education, bullying, anti-bullying, k-12, learning, david levine, school of belonging, belonging, school safety
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Little Talks That Make a Big Difference - The TEI Podcast series
PODCAST OVERVIEW

The Little Talks social and emotional learning (SEL) course for teaching assistants is presented in five short podcasts with reflection experiences for each episode. Podcast episodes build upon each other, providing a baseline training curriculum that highlights infusion of SEL into all aspects of the learning environment.

LISTENING GUIDE

For each episode, a reflective practice exercise is provided to enhance the application of the guiding ideas of podcast topics. The recommended course of study for each session is to:

  1. Listen to the podcast.
  2. Take notes or write reflections as you listen or immediately after.
  3. Put into practice the Try This suggestion.
  4. After listening to all five podcasts please take a few minutes to fill out our survey here.
THE  PODCASTS:

Little Talks for Teaching Assistants| Episode 1: Shaping Student Behaviors

In this session, you are provided with the three highest levels of listening as you endeavor to build rapport with your students while creating the conditions for social and emotional well-being.

Try This: Think of a student that would benefit from high-level listening. What are some open-ended questions you could ask them to draw out their story? Try it out and see if you notice any subtle changes in your relationship with the child.

Little Talks for Teaching Assistants | Episode 2: Emotional intelligence: a pathway toward healthy relationships

In this session you are provided with a working definition of emotional intelligence and how to enhance your emotional competencies in your role as a significant adult in the lives of your students.

Try This: Take note of the times during the day when you feel an emotional response coming on in the midst of a stressful situation.  Notice what “pushes your buttons” and strategize how to best manage your emotions during a stressful event.

Little Talks for Teaching Assistants | Episode 3: The emotionally intelligent conversation: Making emotionally safe connections with students

In this session, you are provided with the empowering equation E plus R equals O: the event plus your response equals the outcome, and to use this equation when interacting with children.

Try This: Consciously use “I” message” statements when seeking to have a child make a different choice during a stressful event.

Little Talks for Teaching Assistants | Episode 4: Naming the world: Illuminating the options children hold

Naming the world as a concept is an outgrowth of the work by Brazilian educator Paolo Freire who said, “That which is unnamed is invisible, and a teacher’s job is to name the world.” In this episode, we explore how to create a secure learning environment in which discovery is enhanced through the use of common language and routine.

Try This: Think of a challenging transition for a student or students to make during the school day and provide them with a specific action plan to manage the transition successfully.

Little Talks for Teaching Assistants | Episode 5: Creative visualization: Tapping into the power of imagination to reframe an experience

Creative visualization is a practice by which a person can imagine the way they want to experience their lives. By imagining a way of being and creating an affirmation statement in the present tense, a person will more naturally make healthy decisions that can lead to a happier life.

Try this: Identify a child who is having a difficult time academically or socially and facilitate a conversation using the miracle questions:

  1. What is going well for you right now?
  2. How would you like to feel when you come to school?
  3. Who could you count on in school to help you?