Teaching with Acceptance and Commitment: Building Teachers’ Social-Emotional Competencies for Teaching Effectiveness

Abstract

Teachers need to relate to students in caring and committed ways, which can be personally and emotionally challenging. Enhancing teachers’ social-emotional competences (SECs) is a pathway to fostering these kinds of relationships. One possibility is using Teaching with Acceptance and Commitment (TAC), which integrates ideas and practices from mindfulness and behavior change. TAC helps teachers notice their emotional responses in the classroom and respond thoughtfully guided by professional values.

Keywords:

• Teacher social-emotional competencies
• teacher-student relationships
• professional development