“The Spooky House": Emotions and Vulnerabilities in the Classroom, ” Patricia Sharpe, Anne O’Dwyer, and Philip Mabry

This workshop will invite participants to acknowledge vulnerability in the classroom, to consider the emotions it evokes, as well as its dangers and possibilities. The story of one teacher's inability to comprehend and validate her students' excitement will offer a metaphor for talking about emotions, vulnerability, and the relational "third space" we seek to create with our students. Finally, we will explore how "safe" the classroom can and should be.