69´«Ã½

Teaching Download

How to Build a Classroom That Supports Difficult Conversations (Downloadable)

By Sarah D. Sparks — November 08, 2024 1 min read
Word bubbles of different sizes and abstract content arranged in a grid like pattern.
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Copy URL

It’s trickier than ever for teachers to manage class discussions of divisive topics—but it’s also crucial for students to learn and practice how to disagree respectfully, logically, and productively.

In the wake of a volatile election season and ongoing public debates on economic, environmental, and social problems, there’s no shortage of issues to engage students’ creativity and passion. In a recent nationally representative survey, educators told the EdWeek Research Center that they often feel at a loss to give students the tools and safety to grapple with these issues while also navigating state and local restrictions and parent concerns.

For more on how teachers can help their students learn to build bridges on polarizing topics, check out this year’s Big Ideas in Education special report and download the tip sheet below.

Related Tags:

Vanessa Solis, Associate Design Director contributed to this article.

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Special Education Webinar
Don’t Count Them Out: Dyscalculia Support from PreK-Career
Join Dr. Elliott and Dr. Wall as they empower educators to support students with dyscalculia to envision successful careers and leadership roles.
Content provided by 
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Student Well-Being Webinar
Improve School Culture and Engage 69´«Ã½: Archery’s Critical Role in Education
Changing lives one arrow at a time. Find out why administrators and principals are raving about archery in their schools.
Content provided by 
School Climate & Safety Webinar Engaging Every Student: How to Address Absenteeism and Build Belonging
Gain valuable insights and practical solutions to address absenteeism and build a more welcoming and supportive school environment.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.

Read Next

Teaching Download Teachers, Here's How to Build Stronger Relationships With Boys (Downloadable)
Boys are relational learners, experts say. Here are eight key strategies for how to reach them.
Jessica Arrow, a play-based learning kindergarten teacher, leads her kindergarten class back into their classroom from forest play time at Symonds Elementary School in Keene, N.H. on Nov. 7, 2024.
Jessica Arrow, a kindergarten teacher at Symonds Elementary School in Keene, N.H., leads her students back into their classroom from forest play time on Nov. 7, 2024. Boys crave strong relationships with their teachers, experts say.
Sophie Park for Education Week
Teaching Opinion 10 Actions Teachers Can Take Now That Trump Is President
On Day 1 of his second term, Trump issued orders that could negatively affect students. Here’s how to support them.
4 min read
Conceptual illustration of classroom conversations and fragmented education elements coming together to form a cohesive picture of a book of classroom knowledge.
Sonia Pulido for Education Week
Teaching Spotlight Spotlight on PreK-12 Problem-Based Learning
This Spotlight will help you learn how to prepare students for the workforce, partner with students on sustainability initiatives, and more.
Teaching Opinion How Teachers Can Care for Their 69´«Ã½ and Themselves This Year (Downloadable)
A veteran teacher suggests 8 essential practices to benefit everyone in the classroom.
Justin Parmenter
1 min read
Education and Learning icons in the classroom or online. Idea knowledge of innovative technology, science, and mathematics.
iStock/Getty Images + Education Week