Penny Lee has been teaching for more than 15 years, returning to The University of Queensland to complete a master's degree in guidance counselling. In this episode, Penny helps answer the question, "How does prioritising student wellbeing change what teachers do in classrooms?".

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After listening to this episode, start here

Trauma-informed teaching strategies

https://www.ascd.org/el/articles/trauma-informed-teaching-strategies

Article outlining practical approaches to classroom interactions that support students who have experienced trauma, with a focus on safety, predictability and relationships.

Relationships matter more than rules

https://www.edutopia.org/article/relationships-matter-more-rules/

Article exploring how to establish expectations in ways that prioritise relationships. Includes practical strategies and activities to build rapport and create a safe, supportive classroom environment.

Try this tomorrow

Strategies to support emotional regulation

education.nsw.gov.au/content/dam/main-education/student-wellbeing/attendance-behaviour-and-engagement/student-behaviour/behaviour-support-toolkit/teachers/Strategies_to_support_student_emotional_regulation.pdf

Downloadable resource with practical, classroom-ready strategies organised into themes to support student regulation. These strategies help improve focus, engagement and readiness to learn.

Grounding exercise for racing minds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgRd1Mzhb_Q

Short Headspace video guiding a simple grounding exercise that can be used with a class or individually to calm the mind and support readiness for learning.

If you want to go deeper

OECD: The importance of social and emotional skills

https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/nurturing-social-and-emotional-learning-across-the-globe_32b647d0-en.html

Analysis of large-scale research demonstrating the long-term impact of social and emotional skills on academic achievement, wellbeing and life outcomes. Includes recommendations for how schools can better support these skills.

Polyvagal Theory overview by Stephen Porges

https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/whatispolyvagaltheory

Overview of the science of the nervous system and its role in regulation, explaining why students need to feel safe and regulated to learn effectively.