CRW Director Monica Fitzgerald was interviewed in response to the shooting at Evergreen High School, emphasizing the importance of supportive, skilled adults, predictable environments and real conversation with youth.
Labeling emotions is equally as important.
“I’m better able to regulate a feeling if I can first name it,” Fitzgerald said. “Labeling feelings is really a fundamental skill for adults and for kids.”
This — coupled with a warm tone, acknowledging the situation, being present, reassuring their safety but not making promises — will go a long way to helping students regulate their emotions.
“So, they don’t have to carry around their worries in their backpacks,” Fitzgerald said.
That — with frequent check ins.
“Multiple, short conversations can be more powerful than a single big conversation,” Fitzgerald added.