Evidence is louder than opinion.
When a child walks into my classroom heavy with worry or anger, I reach for short, clear phrases that help them feel seen and steady. Evidence is louder than opinion. As a teacher I remind students—and myself—that feelings are real but we can learn a lot by noticing what actually happened, what we can show, and what steps we can take next. Saying things like "I see you are shaking," or "You finished that page even though it was hard," points to facts we can all agree on. These small, concrete observations calm the part of the brain that panics and invite thinking instead of arguing. I'm not a doctor or therapist, but in the classroom I use gentle language to help kids grow emotionally: "Tell me what happened," "What do we know for sure?" "Let's look for clues," "You tried, and that matters," and "We can fix one thing at a time." Those short lines move children away from blaming themselves or others and toward curiosity and problem solving.
When friends fight, when a test went wrong, or when a child feels left out, evidence-based phrases help turn feelings into manageable steps. For example, instead of saying "Everyone is against you," I might say, "I heard you say you felt left out at recess; who was there and what did they do?" That change gives the child a role: to describe, to notice, to collect facts, and then to choose actions. Teachers can model this by sharing their own small observations too—"I notice I felt frustrated when I dropped my coffee, and then I took three deep breaths"—which teaches emotional regulation by example. These phrases do not deny feelings; they name them and combine that naming with clear, observable details so children learn to separate sensation from story.
Keep the language simple, steady, and repeated: kids learn by hearing the same safe lines again and again. Use short reminders like "One thing at a time" or "Evidence first, then feelings" when things feel chaotic. Encourage students to practice the phrases with each other and with you, turning them into habits that make hard moments softer. Over time, children will begin to check their own thoughts—asking, "Is that an opinion or what actually happened?"—which builds resilience, better friendships, and stronger learning skills. These are small verbal tools with big impact: they help kids move from being overwhelmed to being able to act, repair, and grow. As a teacher, offering steady words and pointing to what we can prove helps children find calm and confidence during the tough days.