Posted by Mr. VanDusen on Brain Fusion with Mr. VanDusen
Picture this: One student crumbles after getting a B-minus, another throws a tantrum over a group
project gone sideways. Now picture a third student who, when faced with the same challenges, takes a breath, resets, and pushes forward.
That third student? They’ve got emotional resilience. And as teachers, we can help every student develop that superpower.
In this post, I’m diving into one of the most critical tools in any teacher’s arsenal—Social Emotional Learning (SEL)—specifically, how to teach emotional resilience to K–12 students. (Spoiler alert: It’s not about being emotionless or bottling things up—it’s about managing emotions and bouncing back.)
What Is Emotional Resilience Anyway?
Emotional resilience is the ability to manage emotions, adapt to stress, and keep moving forward after a setback. It’s not about being cold and stoic—it’s about understanding what you're feeling and knowing what to do with it.
As a longtime teacher, coach, and Army officer, I’ve seen firsthand how emotional regulation can be the difference between a student melting down or moving on.
So, how do we help students build this vital skill?
1. Teach Emotional Awareness
Pro tip: Let students move in and out on the wheel. Sometimes they start with “I’m mad” and realize, “Actually, I’m overwhelmed.”
2. Normalize Failure as a Learning Tool
I catch heat for this one, but here it is: Prepare to fail. Literally.
When I taught STEM, we built towers until they collapsed and shelters until the fan blew them apart. Failure was baked into the process. Why? Because we were teaching students that failure isn’t the end—it’s feedback.
From missed quiz questions to missed layups, students need to see failure not as defeat, but as data. Reframe it: “What did I learn?” not “How did I screw up?”
3. Teach Self-Regulation Techniques
Once students can name what they feel, they need tools to handle it.
Not every strategy works for every kid—one student might relax with journaling, another might need a lap around the hallway. Breathing exercises, drawing, water breaks, mindfulness—give them a toolkit, then let them find their own best wrench.
Middle school boys drawing flowers? Maybe not. But deep breathing before a math test? Totally doable.
4. Model It Yourself
If you can’t manage your own stress without yelling at the copy machine, students won’t believe a word you say about resilience.
Be real. Try the breathing techniques. Talk through your own failures. I’ve told my students about times I botched SEL lessons—and how I bounced back. And let me tell you, when “tough guy” Mr. VanDusen uses SEL skills, even the most resistant students start to take it seriously.
5. Build a Classroom Culture of Support
Make it okay to fail in your room.
That doesn’t mean we celebrate sloppiness—it means we celebrate learning from mistakes. Share your own learning curves, and give students space to try, stumble, and try again.
Supporting Struggling Students
Some kids wear their stress on their sleeve. Others hide it behind humor or silence. As teachers, we can’t fix everything, but we can notice.
Watch for:
-
Quick tempers over minor setbacks
-
Avoidance of new challenges
-
Negative self-talk
Build relationships. Get curious. Ask questions. What looks like a meltdown over a broken pencil might be about a lot more.
Voices from the Field
Two fellow Kingsford teachers, Diana Peters and Katie Dalla Piazza, shared their SEL experiences on my podcast:
-
Diana emphasized the importance of relationships and consistent language. SEL lessons help define terms like “well-being” so students and teachers speak the same language.
-
Katie highlighted the overwhelming challenges students face—from social media to family instability—and the need for tools to manage it all. She also noted that SEL only works when it's authentic, not just “Monday’s 20-minute lesson.”
SEL Isn’t a Lesson—It’s a Lifestyle
If we want SEL to be real, it can’t live only on Mondays.
It has to show up during Tuesday quizzes, Thursday lunch drama, and every hallway interaction in between. When students see it in action, and when we model it ourselves, it becomes less of a lesson and more of a life skill.
And that’s the goal: Emotional resilience that doesn’t just help kids survive middle school—but helps them thrive in life.
If this post helped you or made you think, share it with a fellow educator. Let’s build emotionally strong students—one deep breath at a time.
Until next time, keep fusing those brains!
—Mr. VanDusen
Like this post? Subscribe to Brain Fusion with Mr. VanDusen for more classroom insights and teaching strategies!
👨🏫 About John VanDusen:
John has been teaching elementary and middle school since 2007 and serves as a coach
and instructor for the U.S. Army Reserves. This podcast is here to give teachers fast,
practical strategies for busy educators to enhance their classrooms.
See more at www.johnvandusen.com
Engage on X: https://x.com/classcoffeebrk
Email: classroomcoffeebreak@gmail.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2lgzDkcMo0e99wLRcRCpLZ?si=mYt2kuf8T0-P5UGW6jb8nA
YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLem94-SAKHMOb7mrV_ZM8154crZDAbYDe&si=ZqYZNlM5f4EqX_95
No comments:
Post a Comment