This Class Has Softened My Heart: Humanizing Approaches to Teacher Education

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 8:00 am Four Seasons Ballroom 4
  In Roundtable Session: Pedagogical Dimensions of Change in Teacher Education (Table 6)

Abstract

This paper investigates the transformative potential of integrating an ethic of care within teacher education. By examining preservice and early-career teachers' experiences in courses that prioritize empathy, emotional engagement, and critical reflection, this study highlights how educators reflect on their own education and implement practices in their own classrooms. Through qualitative data from three institutions, this research reveals how course design and activities encourage teachers to disrupt harmful ideologies and embrace holistic teaching philosophies. The findings advocate for a human-centered approach to teacher education, emphasizing the importance of emotional well-being alongside pedagogy. This research contributes to the broader discourse on teacher education, promoting a compassionate and equitable model that addresses systemic oppression and nurtures the diverse needs of all students.

Author

• Coley Lehman, Western Oregon University