Helping students express their emotions can be a challenging but rewarding process. This blog post will guide you through teaching students how to say how they feel using ‘I feel’ statements. We will discuss an easy-to-implement activity, questions to spark meaningful discussions, and related skills that can further support students’ emotional expression.

Introduction

Learning to express emotions is a crucial aspect of Social-Emotional Learning. When students can articulate their feelings using ‘I feel’ statements, they become better equipped to handle their emotions and develop stronger relationships with their peers. This skill also fosters empathy and understanding, as it encourages students to listen to and acknowledge the feelings of others.

No-Prep Activity: Emotion Charades

This simple activity requires no preparation or materials and can be adapted to suit various age groups. It helps students practice expressing their feelings using ‘I feel’ statements while also encouraging them to recognize and empathize with the emotions of others.

1. Divide the students into small groups or pairs.
2. One student in each group will act out an emotion without using any words, while the other students try to guess the emotion being portrayed.
3. Once the emotion has been guessed correctly, the student acting out the emotion should say, “I feel [emotion] because…” and provide a reason for feeling that way.
4. Rotate roles within the groups so that each student has a chance to act out an emotion and practice using ‘I feel’ statements.

Discussion Questions

Use these questions to stimulate further discussions about expressing emotions and using ‘I feel’ statements:

• Why is it important to express our feelings using ‘I feel’ statements?
• How can using ‘I feel’ statements help us better understand and empathize with others?
• What are some challenges you might face when trying to express your emotions using ‘I feel’ statements? How can you overcome these challenges?
• How can we support our peers when they share their feelings using ‘I feel’ statements?
• Can you think of a situation when using ‘I feel’ statements helped you resolve a conflict or better understand someone else’s perspective?

Related Skills

Beyond using ‘I feel’ statements, there are other skills that can help students develop their emotional expression and social-emotional understanding:

• Active Listening: Encourage students to listen attentively and respond empathetically when others share their feelings.
• Emotion Regulation: Teach students strategies to manage their emotions, such as deep breathing, mindfulness, or seeking support from a trusted adult.
• Conflict Resolution: Help students learn to address disagreements and conflicts using respectful communication and problem-solving skills.
• Empathy: Foster a sense of empathy by encouraging students to imagine how others might feel in different situations and respond with care and understanding.

Next Steps

Integrating ‘I feel’ statements into your classroom can have a significant impact on your students’ emotional expression and social-emotional development. To access free samples of materials that can help you teach this skill and others, visit Everyday Speech’s Sample Materials page. By incorporating these resources into your lessons, you can support your students as they learn to express their feelings and navigate the complexities of their emotions.