Teaching With Empathy

Explore how three types of empathy—affective, cognitive, and behavioral—intertwine with curriculum, learning environment, equity practices, instruction and assessment, and grading and reporting.

Helping children develop greater empathy-related awareness and skills can help prevent negative social behaviours such as bullying, meanness, and alienation. Empathy is a fundamental social emotion because it brings a sense of emotional connection to others. It is this awareness that is not only basic to all healthy relationships; it is the root of prosocial behaviour, altruism, kindness and peace. Empathy has cognitive, affective and behavioural components that can be learned and improved upon by children. The lessons and activities in this book are designed to: teach students the value of empathy; assist students in recognizing their own and others' feelings; help students put themselves in "someone else's shoes"; and instruct students how to exhibit understanding and acceptance. Each topic-related lesson includes five inviting worksheets that can be reproduced and used repeatedly with elementary school-aged students.

International bestseller As seen in The Wall Street Journal--from free play to cozy together time, discover the parenting secrets of the happiest people in the world What makes Denmark the happiest country in the world--and how do Danish parents raise happy, confident, successful kids, year after year? This upbeat and practical book presents six essential principles, which spell out P-A-R-E-N-T: Play is essential for development and well-being. Authenticity fosters trust and an "inner compass." Reframing helps kids cope with setbacks and look on the bright side. Empathy allows us to act with kindness toward others. No ultimatums means no power struggles, lines in the sand, or resentment. Togetherness is a way to celebrate family time, on special occasions and every day. The Danes call this hygge--and it's a fun, cozy way to foster closeness. Preparing meals together, playing favorite games, and sharing other family traditions are all hygge. (Cell phones, bickering, and complaining are not!) With illuminating examples and simple yet powerful advice, The Danish Way of Parenting will help parents from all walks of life raise the happiest, most well-adjusted kids in the world.

This charming story uses verse, beautiful illustrations and a little person called Quinn to model the meaning of empathy. Quinn shows an abundance of understanding, compassion and kindness towards others. Empathy is a learnt trait, and one to nurture in all children. Included are Discussion Questions and activities to promote empathy.

This book explores the importance of compassion and empathy within educational contexts. While compassion and empathy are widely recognised as key to living a happy and healthy life, there is little written about how these qualities can be taught to children and young people, or how teachers can model these traits in their own practice. This book shares several models of compassion and empathy that can be implemented in schooling contexts, also examining how these qualities are presented in children’s picture books, films and games. The editors and contributors share personal insights and practical approaches to improve both awareness and use of compassionate and empathetic approaches to others. This book will be of interest and value to all those interested in promoting compassion and empathy within education.

Educating for Empathy presents a compelling framework for thinking about the purpose and practice of literacy education in a politically polarized world. Mirra proposes a model of critical civic empathy that encourages secondary ELA teachers to consider how issues of power and inequity play out in the literacy classroom and how to envision literacy practices as a means of civic engagement. The book reviews core elements of ELA instruction—response to literature, classroom discussion, research, and digital literacy—and demonstrates how these activities can be adapted to foster critical thinking and empathetic perspectives among students. Chapters depict teachers and students engaging in this transformative learning, offer concrete strategies for the classroom, and pose questions to guide school communities in collaborative reflection. “If educators were to follow Mirra’s model, we will have come a long way toward educating and motivating young people to become involved, engaged, and caring citizens.” —Sonia Nieto, professor emerita, University of Massachusetts, Amherst “Grounded in respectful research partnerships with youth and teachers, this is a book that will resonate with and inspire educators in these precarious times.” —Gerald Campano, University of Pennsylvania “If ever there were a time for a book on empathy in education, the moment is now.” —Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz, Teachers College, Columbia University

Empathy in Education discusses the role of empathy in learning throughout all levels of education and its crucial relationship to motivation, values development and achievement, impacting from the micro to the macro levels of society. Using initial research involving interviews with teachers and student teachers in many different contexts, from nursery to sixth form lessons along side neuroscience, psychology and educational research, the author considers the intrinsic nature of affect and empathic human relationships in learning. At a time when politicians are calling for personalized learning and the promotion of good citizenship but are still advocating an intensive, rigid curriculum, in large, one size fits all, classes, this study highlights the inherent contradictions in rhetoric and practice. Cooper offers a detailed study in empathy in teaching and learning which sheds light on the learning process in intricate detail and gives balance to the strong emphasis on mechanistic learning, curriculum and cognition which has dominated the last twenty years of learning theory and sets a foundation for future research into affective and moral issues in learning.

This book examines the concept of empathy as an essential aspect of the teacher training curriculum, and asks how it can be taught. While there has been a steady flow of teacher education reform books in recent years, there are comparatively few that have considered change from understandings and advances developed in human rights-based practices and theatrical traditions. The author presents unique and compelling approaches to teacher training and learning, developed in conjunction with experts in theatrical and educational fields and combining both research and praxis. This pioneering book will appeal to students and scholars of education and empathy, as well as those interested in incorporating empathy into their teaching practice.