This article examines the role of emotions in educational
work with asylum-seeking and refugee children by studying
a specific case of teaching in culturally diverse classrooms.
Using empirical data from various classroom contexts in
Denmark based on teacher interviews and participant observations,
the role of emotions is examined through a relational
approach informed by, among others, Sara Ahmed. The analysis
firstly developed three types of situated emotion management
performed by actors for a wide range of reasons,
feeling rules and organisational regulations. Secondly,
I undertook a theoretical interpretation of the analysis involving
a study of emotions asking, ‘what do emotions do’ and
‘how do emotions operate’ to make and shape bodies of
othering. The findings suggest that a relational approach to
emotion allows for a better understanding of how emotions
work with effect in educational work with asylum-seeking
and refugee children and, accordingly, how teachers can
benefit from including this approach in understanding and
finding solutions to the important role emotions play in
asylum-seeking and refugee education.