Teaching Empathy: Building Stronger Classrooms and Communities

Sep 9

Empathy isn’t just a soft skill—it’s a cornerstone of both academic success and social-emotional development. When we intentionally teach students how to understand and relate to others’ feelings, we are equipping them with tools that extend far beyond the classroom.

So, how do we actually teach empathy? I’ve found that it comes down to three steps: Model, Establish, and Nurture.

1. Model Empathy

Students learn best by example, and empathy is no different. When we model authentic caring—listening with an open mind, seeking to understand the reasons behind a student’s behavior, or showing genuine concern—we demonstrate what empathy looks and feels like.

The key is authenticity. Students know when emotions are feigned. Whether you’re offering concern, enthusiasm, or encouragement, it has to come from a place of truth. As the saying goes: “The best way to teach empathy is to demonstrate it.”

2. Establish Empathy in the Classroom

Once we’ve modeled empathy, we need to give students the language and tools to practice it themselves. This might look different depending on age:

Preschool: Using emotion posters, mimicking facial expressions, or naming feelings (happy, sad, frustrated, excited).
School-age children: Discussing short stories, videos, or real-life scenarios to reflect on how characters or peers might feel.

Sharing age-appropriate personal experiences also helps. When we describe our own emotions—why we felt a certain way and how we worked through it—we’re showing students that empathy connects real life to classroom learning.

3. Nurture Empathy Over Time

Teaching empathy isn’t a one-time lesson—it’s an ongoing process woven into curriculum and classroom life. Opportunities to nurture empathy include:

Curriculum connections: Highlighting units that explore emotions, perspective-taking, or cultural experiences.
Teachable moments: Asking questions like, “How are you feeling?” or “How do you think they felt in that situation?”
Circle time or class meetings: Creating safe spaces for students to share feelings, listen to peers, and reflect together.

These small, consistent practices normalize emotional reflection and build an environment where students feel heard and valued.

Why Empathy Matters

Research shows that classrooms built on empathy are non-judgmental, inclusive, and motivating. The benefits are wide-reaching:

Higher levels of empathy are linked to stronger reading, math, and critical thinking skills.
Empathy fosters connection across backgrounds, cultures, and social groups.
Empathy reduces aggression and negative behaviors while strengthening relationships.

Put simply: empathy builds stronger learners and stronger communities.

Final Reflection

As an educator, I’m excited to keep exploring new ways to integrate empathy into teaching. Whether through curriculum, teachable moments, or intentional relationship-building, the goal is the same: to create safe, supportive classrooms where students grow not just as learners, but as compassionate human beings.

References

Batson, C. D., Duncan, B. D., Ackerman, P., Buckley, T., & Birch, K. (1981). Is empathic emotion a source of altruistic motivation? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 40(2), 290–302.
Batson, C. D., Polycarpou, M. P., Harmon-Jones, E., et al. (1997). Empathy and attitudes: Can feeling for a member of a stigmatized group improve feelings toward the group? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72(1), 105–118.
Benson, P. L. (2006). All kids are our kids: What communities must do to raise caring and responsible children and adolescents. Jossey-Bass.
Durlak, J. A., Dymnicki, A. B., Taylor, R. D., Weissberg, R. P., & Schellinger, K. B. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432.
Teaching Students Empathy (n.d.). Inspire Teaching. https://online.inspireteaching.org/modules/teaching-students-empathy/

Em Cavendish