The Kind Classroom: Cultivating Care and Connection Beyond the Grade
Location
Logan, UT
Start Date
8-13-2025 12:00 PM
End Date
8-13-2025 12:45 PM
Description
This presentation explores the transformative potential of what Catherine J. Denial calls kindness pedagogy, which is grounded in two core principles: believing students when they share their lived experiences and believing in their capacity as evolving learners. Focusing on the human element of teaching via this approach can foster learning that extends “Beyond the Grade.” Kindness pedagogy, as a principled practice of both support and challenge, creates a safe and structured space where students feel free to take intellectual risks, engage deeply with content, and pursue both academic and personal growth alongside course outcomes. By prioritizing trust, clarity, and community, a pedagogy of kindness reduces unnecessary friction, invites deeper engagement, and cultivates learning that resonates long after the final assessment. Drawing from personal classroom experiences, this session will provide practical strategies for implementing kindness pedagogy before, during, and after class. Through this approach, educators can cultivate classrooms that not only challenge students academically but also support their holistic development. In such a space, kindness is foundational to students’ academic and personal flourishing, fostering deeper and more meaningful learning experiences for all.
The Kind Classroom: Cultivating Care and Connection Beyond the Grade
Logan, UT
This presentation explores the transformative potential of what Catherine J. Denial calls kindness pedagogy, which is grounded in two core principles: believing students when they share their lived experiences and believing in their capacity as evolving learners. Focusing on the human element of teaching via this approach can foster learning that extends “Beyond the Grade.” Kindness pedagogy, as a principled practice of both support and challenge, creates a safe and structured space where students feel free to take intellectual risks, engage deeply with content, and pursue both academic and personal growth alongside course outcomes. By prioritizing trust, clarity, and community, a pedagogy of kindness reduces unnecessary friction, invites deeper engagement, and cultivates learning that resonates long after the final assessment. Drawing from personal classroom experiences, this session will provide practical strategies for implementing kindness pedagogy before, during, and after class. Through this approach, educators can cultivate classrooms that not only challenge students academically but also support their holistic development. In such a space, kindness is foundational to students’ academic and personal flourishing, fostering deeper and more meaningful learning experiences for all.