Encouraging Empathy: Do's and Don'ts for Teaching Cooperation and Care

Social skills are often assumed by many adults as something that children innately possess. However, empathy and compassion for fellow students is something that takes careful development and management in the classroom. Join Leigh Anne Kraemer-Naser as she defines and distinguishes between the critical components of cooperation and care: emotional literacy, empathy, and perspective taking. She will provide a brief overview of the milestones in the development of empathy and a sense of self will. In addition, Leigh Anne will discuss some basic, but effective practices that can successfully develop empathy among the students in your classroom. She will also share some common phrases to avoid, since they can inhibit or confuse children's empathetic responses.