Creating Emotionally Safe Schools, Second Edition

Whether students feel stressed or supported has a profound impact on their success, sense of belonging, and behavior. Designed as a guide for education professionals and parents, this book explores emotional safety, its effect on learning, and practical strategies for fostering well-being. Discover how to shape students' emotional responses by modeling healthy expression, building community, and nurturing self-awareness and self-management. K-12 administrators and teachers can use this book to: - Foster emotional safety and belonging in schools - Address how stress and anxiety impact the learning environment - Address students' emotional needs and cultivate positive relationships in the classroom - Strengthen classroom management with healthy approaches and practices - Maintain authority while balancing structure with freedom Contents: Introduction Part I: Dimensions of a Very Big Picture Chapter 1: What Safety Is Chapter 2: The Heart of the Matter--Feelings and School Chapter 3: Safety--It's a Brain Thing Chapter 4: Learning and the Brain Chapter 5: Body and Mind Chapter 6: Where Children Are Coming From--Stress and Adaptation Chapter 7: Over the Edge--A World of Violence Chapter 8: Brave New World--The Changing Role of the School Chapter 9: All Are Welcome Here--The Need for Community Chapter 10: Snags in the Tapestry Chapter 11: More Welcome Than Others--Discrimination and Belonging Chapter 12: How Does Your Garden Grow? More Diversity, More Discrimination Part II: The Toolbox Chapter 13: Academic Safety--Learning and Success Chapter 14: Emotional Safety--Personal and Character Development Chapter 15: Social Safety--Belonging and Interpersonal Competence Chapter 16: Behavioral Safety--Discipline and Cooperation Chapter 17: Physical Safety--The Student Body Part III: The Grownups Chapter 18: Teacher Safety--Protecting the Protectors Chapter 19: The Collaborators--Parents and Community Epilogue: Are We Almost There Yet? Appendix References and Resources Index