September 17, 2024

How Educators can Improve Their Emotional Intelligence and Awareness

33 minutes

Unlock the secrets to fostering emotionally intelligent classrooms. In today's discussion, we dive into the pivotal role of emotional intelligence in supporting Black children who have faced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Our guest, LeTosha White, vice president of the Chicago affiliate of the Black Child Development Institute, joins host Kate Cline to share invaluable insights. Together, they explore how self-awareness, empathy, and other components of emotional intelligence can transform classrooms into nurturing spaces that foster resilience and growth for Black students.

In this episode, we unpack the critical components of emotional intelligence and their importance in creating emotionally supportive classrooms for Black children who have experienced ACEs. LeTosha White discusses the lasting impacts of ACEs and how emotionally intelligent environments can mitigate these effects. The conversation highlights the need for educators to develop their own emotional intelligence, focusing on self-awareness and empathy to create unbiased, nurturing learning spaces. Real-life examples illustrate how addressing personal biases and triggers can lead to more supportive responses to student behavior. Additionally, the episode emphasizes the importance of self-care for educators, reinforcing that thriving teachers are key to fostering thriving students.

Topics Discussed in This Episode

[00:02:21] How Letosha connects to the issue of emotional intelligence in the classroom.

[00:03:23] What brought LeTosha to where she is today.

[00:04:28] Defining emotional intelligence

[00:05:14] The five skillsets within emotional intelligence

[00:06:32] What ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) are

[00:08:45] How educators can start being more aware

[00:10:32] How to build self-awareness

[00:13:57] Understanding empathy

[00:19:18] Becoming aware of biases

[00:21:25] Coaching a teacher through biases

[00:28:51] Specific ways to support Black children in the classroom