Empathetic Teaching Practices

As classrooms buzz back to life, teachers are juggling lesson plans, curriculum demands, and admin pressures. But what if we stopped and asked a radical question: ✨ What do our students expect from us? What if we saw education as a service, where teachers are the architects of an experience designed around the needs of those it serves? Their academic, emotional, and social development is the outcome—and we have the power to shape it. Why Seeing Students as “Customers” Works The word customer may seem transactional, but let’s reframe it. Great organisations prioritise those they serve. Businesses listen to their clients. Why should education be any different? This isn’t about surrendering authority—it’s about empathy. When children feel heard, they engage more deeply. When teachers truly listen, learning becomes a partnership. The Day One Experiment: “What Kind of Teacher Do You Need Me to Be?” Start the year with curiosity and humility. Ask your students four simple but powerful questions: 1️⃣ What do good teachers SAY? 2️⃣ How do good teachers ACT? 3️⃣ What kind of people are good teachers? 4️⃣ What should good teachers NEVER do? Give them sticky notes or an anonymous survey. Their answers will surprise you. A 10-year-old might write, “Good teachers laugh with us but don’t yell.” A teenager might say, “They give us time to figure things out on our own.” These responses reveal insights no curriculum ever could—they highlight what students actually need to feel safe, inspired, and engaged. Turning Feedback Into Action Once you’ve gathered their responses, read them aloud. Look for patterns—kindness, patience, and clarity will likely stand out. Then, make a promise: 💡 “I’ll try my best to be the teacher you’ve described. I won’t always get it right, but when I don’t, I want you to hold me accountable.” This moment of honesty is transformative. A student who hears, “You’re right—homework deadlines should be clearer. Let’s fix that together,” learns the power of collaboration and respectful dialogue. Trust grows—not because the teacher is perfect, but because they’re present. When students feel valued, they take risks. A child who trusts their teacher is more likely to raise their hand, admit when they don’t understand, and support their peers. Academics improve, but so do resilience, confidence, and empathy. And teachers benefit too—classroom management becomes about cooperation, not control. 🎯 Your classroom isn’t just a place. It’s a promise. Let your students help you keep it. #Education #StudentVoice #Teaching #EmpathyInEducation #LifelongLearning #ClassroomCulture #montessori

I used to struggle connecting with my students. I knew that was the most important part of my job. So I found a better way. I hope you find it as useful as I did. It's the R.E.L.A.T.E framework. Don't skip any step. It's a package deal. R - Recognize individuality Every student is different. Notice their strengths, weaknesses, and interests. If you don't understand them, you can't reach them. E - Empathize with them What might they be experiencing? Don't just assume. Dig and find out. Teaching isn't just about academics. L - Listen to them Find out what they're going through. Understand why they might be disengaged. When you care you become someone they trust. A - Affirm their feelings Identify their concerns. Explain why their feelings are valid. Make sure they see you understand them. A few moments can make them feel seen and respected. T - Teach human skills It's not all about academics. Teach them empathy, responsibility, resilience. Validate their need to learn these skills. This helps them trust your guidance. E - Ensure regular feedback Address any concerns they have about their performance. Provide constructive feedback (hint: use AI). Encourage them to do better. When students see you put in effort They will reciprocate. This framework has been a game-changer for me. I hope it does the same for you.

There have been some conversations and debates recently about empathy among professors, which I believe were spurred by a post by Anya Rao. Many professors took it quite personally, and posted about how it is difficult to be empathic when students don't coordinate. I agree with that. Students can often be inconsiderate and take their professors for a ride. It also doesn't help that professors also work in a stressful and competitive environment. However, being empathic is still a choice professors can make. It's not just about extending deadlines for submissions. It's about realising that not all students have the same privilege and that each has their own baggage to carry, and making specific accommodations based on that. Not everyone stays close to campus, and some students have to travel 10-15 km by public transport to attend classes. Understanding that fact and being harsh on them for being late to an early morning class is a very basic way of practicing empathy. I was on antidepressants for some time in my first year UG. The meds would make me extremely sleepy. Not the groggy kind of sleepy, but the "can't keep my head up and I'd crash" kind of sleepy. I approached my class teacher and HoD about this, and they allowed me to take small naps in class whenever it got too bad. That was some display of empathy. Empathy is about seeing students as adult human beings instead of inferior subordinates. Let them make their own decisions, but let them know what consequences their decision holds. I always tell my students the consequences of submitting assignments late, or not submitting them at all, without any reason, and then let them take the call on what they have to do. As professors, we are facilitators, not teachers. Our job is to guide the students, not to tell them what they should be doing. Empathy is also about being approachable instead of being cold and insulting. It's about being warm enough so that the students don't feel difficult to approach you when they are in some trouble or to seek guidance. I know there would be contrary views, and that's fine. What I believe about being a professor has been formed through the experiences I had with my professors, who were some of the most warm, caring, and empathic people I've ever seen. For me, it's about giving back what I had received. What do you think about empathy among professors? What was your experience with your professors like? ~~~~~~~~~~ #professor #teaching #education #empathy #mentalhealth