Resources on Managing Our Own Emotions

“When you’re learning to be a teacher, you think it’s just about lesson plans, curriculum, and seating charts,” said Garcia. “I was blindsided by the emotional aspect of teaching—I didn’t know how to handle it."

When Students Are Traumatized, Teachers Are Too, Edutopia. 2017

Research & Background

Emotional intelligence comes of age
Brackett, Marc & Cipriano, Christina. (2020).
Cerebrum : The Dana forum on brain science.
Research review/Theory. Discussion of the centrality of emotional exhaustion and the skills and emotional intelligence to address it in the ongoing teacher burnout crisis.

Teachers’ emotional labor in response to daily events with individual students: The role of teacher–student relationship quality
de Ruiter, J. A., Poorthuis, A. M., Koomen, H. M. (2021).
Teaching and Teacher Education, 107.
Empirical study. Diary study examining how teachers' relationship perceptions (closeness, conflict, and dependency) affect their emotional labor strategies (genuine expression and surface acting) in their work with students.

When students are traumatized, teachers are too
Minero, Emelina (October 4, 2017).
Website. Edutopia (edutopia.org).
Topic review. Explores ways in which trauma in students’ lives also affects teachers, both physically and emotionally. Provides suggestions for possible approaches.

To build emotional strength, expand your brain
Hannon, Kerry. The New York Times, September 8, 2020.
Popular press. Makes the case that curiosity, the quest to understand something new, is instrumental for building the resilience needed to manage the own emotions in volatile sitations.

Practical Resources

Three steps educators can take to better manage their emotions
Valenzuela, Jorge. (February 18, 2020)
Website. Teach Better (teachbetter.com).
Blog post. Reviews research on emotional intelligence and regulation and proposes approaches for teachers to promote their own emotional learning and that of their students.

From chaos to coherence: Managing stress while teaching
Israel, Michele (2015)
Website. Education World (educationworld.com).
Guide. Identifies and explains some of the most prevalent sources of stress for teachers and suggests ways to address them.

Creative approaches to supporting the emotional well-being of staff
Lew, Michael (October 30, 2020)
Website. Edutopia (edutopia.org).
Web article. Describes specific strategies school leaders can implement to help support the emotional wellness of teachers.

many emotions
Rachel Proffitt via Canva

Other Resources

The Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control: A Path to Peace and Power
Morgan Schafler, Katherine (2022).
New York. Publishers Weekly
Explores different types and manifestations of perfectionism and how they may help and hinder emotional self-management.

Teacher Emotion Management in the Classroom: Appraisal, Regulation, and Coping
Chang, Mei-Lin (2009).
Doctoral Dissertation. The Ohio State University.
Study examining teachers’ emotions in the context of professional evaluations and approaches to effective coping.

The Moderated Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Burnout in K-12 Teachers
Batista, Miulcaeli (2018).
Doctoral Dissertation. Capella University.
Study examining emotional intelligence facets as effective barriers against teacher burnout.

The Predictive Correlation Between Emotional Intelligence and Burnout Among Teachers
Tina Panagopoulos, Tina (2024).
Doctoral Dissertation.Grand Canyon University.
Study finding that emotional intelligence indicators are predictive of burnout among teachers.

Note: These web pages will continue to be an evolving work in progress. If you know of additional resources you think ought to be featured on these pages, feel free to contact pmartin@ithaca.edu