What is Empathy?

Empathy is the ability to be aware of, understand, and be sensitive to another person’s feelings. Instead of focusing on how these feelings impact ourselves, empathy motivates us to focus on others and respond with care and compassion.

Why Focus on Empathy?

Empathy builds a positive classroom culture. Empathy empowers students to learn to understand each other to build trust and safety in the classroom.

Empathy strengthens community. Empathy helps students strengthen their relationships with classmates, other students and adults at school, and at home.

Empathy prepares your students to be leaders in their community. The best leaders understand the people they lead and are able to show they care.

Empathy in Action:

Take a different perspective. When you take a different perspective, you put aside your own feelings and reactions to see the situation through another’s eyes.

Put aside judgment. Take a pause, and rather than express conclusions about a situation based on what you see, step back and consider other things you may still need to know or understand.

Communicate that you understand. Instead of giving advice, respond with reflective phrases like, “It sounds like you...” or “I hear that you...” to express that you understand and care.

Video on Empathy:

https://iheartckh.com/contentsection/resources/b11dd630-dd85-41c9-a34e-37be8570066d/view/7155ee8e-1d48-4bcf-8c12-f6f7eb744ac5/c843f5d944a2192f822d18e77d85349458a6108732df1c2aa921e1f90053212e

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