My Notes

School isn't a place where we can avoid complex and challenging issues. Instead, as educators we share a responsibility to teach students how to have difficult conversations.

This article provides a few strategies/suggestions:

• Establish discussion norms for the classroom

• Engage in relationship-building activities

• Develop questioning and listening skills (q.v., The Right Question Institute and Facing History & Ourselves)

• Build a "shared reality"

• "Uphold crucial moral principles and rights"

• Communicate with parents

• Scaffold discussions (q.v., The Better Arguments Project)

My Notes

According to Matthew Kay, the role of the teacher is to "lead students in meaningful classroom discourse about big ideas" because ChatGPT has changed everything. Nevertheless, schools help to foster students' "capacities for constructive dialogue and critical thinking." 

How can educators do this?

• Teach students how to argue better

• Use explicit strategies to help students "dig deeper into context"

• Create greater space for student voices and inquiry

• Engage all students in higher level discussions and critical thinking, not just the "honors" and "AP/IB" students