Whether students feel stressed or supported has a profound impact on their success, sense of belonging, and behavior. Designed as a guide for education professionals and parents, this book explores emotional safety, its effect on learning, and practical strategies for fostering well-being. Discover how to shape students’ emotional responses by modeling healthy expression, building community, and nurturing self-awareness and self-management.
K–12 administrators and teachers can use this book to: - Foster emotional safety and belonging in schools
- Address how stress and anxiety impact the learning environment
- Address students’ emotional needs and cultivate positive relationships in the classroom
- Strengthen classroom management with healthy approaches and practices
- Maintain authority while balancing structure with freedom
Contents: Introduction
Part I: Dimensions of a Very Big Picture Chapter 1: What Safety Is
Chapter 2: The Heart of the Matter—Feelings and School
Chapter 3: Safety—It’s a Brain Thing
Chapter 4: Learning and the Brain
Chapter 5: Body and Mind
Chapter 6: Where Children Are Coming From—Stress and Adaptation
Chapter 7: Over the Edge—A World of Violence
Chapter 8: Brave New World—The Changing Role of the School
Chapter 9: All Are Welcome Here—The Need for Community
Chapter 10: Snags in the Tapestry
Chapter 11: More Welcome Than Others—Discrimination and Belonging
Chapter 12: How Does Your Garden Grow? More Diversity, More Discrimination
Part II: The Toolbox Chapter 13: Academic Safety—Learning and Success
Chapter 14: Emotional Safety—Personal and Character Development
Chapter 15: Social Safety—Belonging and Interpersonal Competence
Chapter 16: Behavioral Safety—Discipline and Cooperation
Chapter 17: Physical Safety—The Student Body
Part III: The Grownups Chapter 18: Teacher Safety—Protecting the Protectors
Chapter 19: The Collaborators—Parents and Community
Epilogue: Are We Almost There Yet?
Appendix
References and Resources
Index
Tom Hierck has been an educator since 1983 in a career that has spanned all grade levels and many roles in public education. His experiences as a teacher, an administrator, a district leader, a department of education project leader, and an executive director have provided a unique context for his education philosophy. Tom is a compelling presenter, infusing his message of hope with strategies culled from the real world. He understands that educators face unprecedented challenges and knows which strategies will best serve learning communities. Tom has presented to schools and districts across North America with a message of celebration for educators seeking to make a difference in the lives of students. His dynamic presentations explore the importance of positive learning environments and the role of assessment to improve student learning. His belief that every student is a success story waiting to be told has led him to work with teachers and administrators to create positive school cultures and build effective relationships that facilitate learning for all students. His most recent works include Trauma-Sensitive Instruction: Creating a Safe and Predictable Classroom Environment and Trauma-Sensitive Leadership: Creating a Safe and Predictable School Environment (both with John Eller) and You’re a Teacher Now! What’s Next? (with Alex Kajitani). To learn more about Tom’s work, visit his website (tomhierck.com), or follow @thierck on X or Tom Hierck on Facebook.
