School of Belonging | Field Guide to a School of Belonging

Field Guide to a School of Belonging

This page contains audio reflections, songs, and video referenced in David Levine’s award winning book A Field Guide to a School of Belonging.

Field Guide to a School of Belonging is Teaching Empathy Institute’s (TEI) core resource, providing the rationale for TEI’s baseline integration practices for designing and creating an emotionally safe learning community where every young person has a voice to tell their story and where every story has a place to be told. Readers can use the Field Guide guide individually as a self-study course, with one’s colleagues as a book study, as a school-wide resource, or as a companion to TEI’s digital professional development course: Creating a School of Belonging.

To order copies of the Field Guide to a School of Belonging , and to learn more about our other print & digital resources, and the programs that Teaching Empathy Institute offers, please visit Teaching Empathy Institute.

The Song: Mrs. Lopez I’ll Never Forget You

Teaching Empathy Institute · Mrs. Lopez I’ll Never Forget You

Adults never know when a moment with a student will be one the student never forgets- a positive emotional bookmark

Audio Reflections

Chapter 1 Podcast

Emotional Safety

Often the idea of safety within a school conjures up images of single points of entry, nametags, sign-in desks and zero tolerance for fighting or other aggressive acts. These images focus solely upon physical safety.

In this podcast we examine how by meeting the emotional needs of our students, we are creating the blueprint for emotional safety.

Chapter 2 Podcast

Resilience

A resilient child has hope and optimism for the future with the skills and perspective to manage difficult life situations. In this episode of the Little Talks series, we focus upon the significance relationships have, as we lay the groundwork for each child to have a resilient mindset.

Chapter 3 Podcast

The Artistry of Empathy

Empathy as a professional practice is critical when it comes to connecting a child to his or her learning environment. In this episode of the Little Talks series we reflect on how to make empathic connections with a child by intentionally creating the conditions for success and self-worth. By “absorbing” where a child is, a teacher can practice what is called humanistic differentiation or meeting each child where he or she is.

Chapter 4 Podcast

Emotional imprinting

In the first 15 years of our life, we have experiences which create our value system. These values drive our behaviors and are often unconscious. In this podcast we examine what emotional imprints are and how they can get in the way of building healthy and productive relationships with other. By identifying our imprints, we can manage our emotions more effectively, especially during times of stress.

Afterword Podcast

Simplicity

In this podcast we reflect on how “little things are big things”. As significant adults in the lives of our students, each of us can profoundly influence their future life trajectory. By applying the guiding ideas from this and previous Little Talks episodes, we can make a difference in the lives of our students that goes far beyond test scores and grades.