The Well-being Series
May 18, 2022

What students want from their teachers

Researchers asked students what makes a caring teacher—and these same qualities may help support your well-being as an educator.
2 min read

There has never been a more challenging time for teachers than in recent years. Educators have been persistently worried about caring for not only their students’ academic learning, but also their students’ social and emotional well-being.

The pandemic, climate crises, and global conflicts have left teachers with so much more to shoulder for their students—while they themselves try to cope with everything that is happening. Yet, while many teachers are barely able to stay afloat in these turbulent times, we often hear them lamenting that they feel like they are not doing enough for their students.

But what do students really need? 

This is an excerpt from the article Calm, Clear, and Kind: What Students Want From Their Teachers by Jenna Whitehead.

donate now banner

This article is a part of a special series on the connection between inner well-being and social change, in partnership with The Wellbeing ProjectStanford Social Innovation ReviewSchwab Foundation at the World Economic ForumSkoll Foundation, and The Greater Good Science Center.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Greater Good Science Center
Based at UC Berkeley, the Greater Good Science Center provides a bridge between the research community and the general public. Beyond sponsoring groundbreaking scientific research into social and emotional well-being, they also help people apply this research to their personal and professional lives.
READ NEXT

Bridging the gap between education and learning
The ASER 2023 survey findings indicate that India's education system needs to account for the creativity, aspirations, and digital literacy of its youth to ensure that years of schooling translate into lifelong learning.

Teaching entrepreneurship in government schools
Nurturing skills and an entrepreneurial mindset in schools can spur creativity and enhance career prospects for young people.

Can generative AI help the education sector in India?
Generative AI can be useful for the entire education ecosystem, including students, teachers, and parents. But it comes with its own challenges of implementation and monitoring.