In a world with a 24/7 news cycle, students are bombarded constantly with information and disinformation on a wide range of topics, and they are going to talk about what they see and hear. As events unfold, sensitive topics may become part of the classroom conversation. To foster a safe and supportive environment for students, in which discourse is encouraged and student voices are heard, consider these approaches.
Build a Routine
Use the same discourse routine for all topics. Ask students to share their ideas about how speaking and active listening will happen and how differing perspectives might be shared and discussed. Remind students that they can speak freely but they must also speak respectfully and that everyone who wants to speak will be given a chance to speak. See below for one routine you might follow.
Focus on Media Literacy Skills
Help students build media literacy and critical thinking skills. Model how to analyze information from print and digital sources by asking questions about origin and trustworthiness. Ask students to brainstorm how and where they can find more information to verify the reliability of online sources. Remind students that they should compare multiple sources to make sure they are getting the whole story and that the facts and evidence align.
Share Multiple Perspectives
Students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and bring with them many perspectives and traditions. It’s important to recognize the diversity and allow space for student voices, choices, and ideas to be heard with respect and without judgment. Focus on creating an atmosphere where students feel free to give their views on a topic without fearing repercussions from the class for having an unpopular view.
Promote Dialogue, Not Debate
Don’t allow debate to become the default mode of conversation. Instead, model and practice a less binary mode of conversation in which students explore and attempt to understand many facets of an issue. Model this behavior by asking open-ended questions such as “What do you think about…”, and “Why might someone think….” Be prepared to step in if a discussion gets off track or becomes too heated.
Discourse Routine for Sensitive Topics
- Know yourself and your students.
Recognize that each person brings unique knowledge and experience to the discussion. Remind students that understanding different backgrounds and perspectives helps us learn and grow. - Lay the ground rules.
Civil discourse is a critical skill and one that we should all practice. Tell students everyone will get a chance to speak for themselves and everyone is expected to listen respectfully. - Set an objective for the discussion.
Establish a focus and a framework. Why are we having this conversation? What do we hope to get out of it? When possible, connect to the curriculum. - Monitor the temperature.
If the discussion starts to get overwhelming for anyone, take a break. Engage students in a quick mental or physical activity. - Wrap it up.
Give students a chance to reflect on the discussion. Are there next steps to be taken? Did they achieve their objective? Plan a follow-up conversation if needed.