The support teachers provide is crucial to ensuring all students have the opportunity to engage in learning in safe, supportive and well-managed learning environments. Students may require varying supports depending on their strengths and needs, including reasonable adjustments to the learning environment, teaching or curriculum.
This practice guide will help teachers support students in understanding, managing and safely expressing their emotions so students can successfully engage in learning and maintain positive connections at school. It’s part of a suite of resources developed in partnership with MultiLit and the Institute of Special Educators to help teachers refine or refresh their understanding and practice of supporting students with diverse needs.
This guide outlines the following practices for supporting students’ emotional regulation:
- Identify students’ preferences, strengths and needs.
- Establish and maintain a calm and predictable learning environment.
- Explicitly teach and model how to recognise, understand and manage emotions.
- Make adjustments to support students’ emotional regulation.
The advice in these guides is designed to complement – not replace – existing school and system policies, procedures and guidance.
Keywords: classroom management, student engagement