The Emotional Learner

Book excerpt: The Emotional Learner combines practical advice with the latest evidence to offer essential guidance on how to understand positive and negative emotions. Taking its reader on a tour of the most significant research from psychology, neuroscience and educational studies, it reveals that in order to ensure educational success, teachers must have a deeper understanding of how and why emotional states manifest themselves in the classroom. Written by experienced teacher and psychologist Marc Smith, the book examines the complex relationship between cognition and emotion, clearly and thoughtfully exploring: What we mean by ‘emotions’ and why they are important to learning Understanding master and performance learning orientations Cognition, emotion, memory and recall Personality and motivation Dealing with boredom in the classroom Activating and deactivating emotional states Navigating the teenage years Understanding the positive and negative impact of anxiety and stress Fear of failure, how it evolves and how to combat it. The Emotional Learner is a compelling, accessible introduction to understanding that how we feel is intricately linked to how we learn. It will help all those involved in teaching children and young adults to challenge common-sense assumptions about the role of positive and negative emotions, showing its reader how to teach ‘with emotions in mind’ and ensure positive academic outcomes.