Teachers can focus on promoting a sense of emotional safety to help students develop self-regulation and resilience.

One way for teachers to provide a strong foundation for learning is to cocreate a values-aligned classroom with their students. And then, throughout the school year, devote time and attention to making these values visible.

Identify Your Core Values

In our experience, becoming clear about what you value with a value exercise can provide a helpful lens for navigating a barrage of decisions each day.

In early childhood classrooms, each day is filled with joy, curiosity, and sudden waves of emotion. A disagreement over blocks or a knocked-over tower can quickly turn into tears or frustration. For teachers, these moments become choices: Do we react quickly, or do we respond with intention?

CoCreate a Visible Culture Map

First, it’s important for teachers to be clear about the nonnegotiables in their classroom. For some teachers, students must arrive on time and be prepared for class; for others, showing kindness and taking care of classroom materials are paramount.

Emotional safety begins with calm. When adults stay grounded, children learn that their world is safe, and that even big emotions can be managed with care and trust. When teachers model calm and patience, we become the emotional mirrors children need to develop self-regulation and resilience.