Navigating Challenging Conversations
Central Question: How can teachers constructively engage young people in civil dialogue and inquiry in the midst of the 2020 election, the COVID-19 pandemic, and widespread protests about systemic racism?
This virtual practice-oriented professional development session is intended to prepare teachers to engage with students as they respond to the 2020 election, the pandemic, and debates and protests about systemic racism. During this charged moment in time, students will naturally have questions, concerns, and ideas that they carry with them to school, and it is important that schools be places for sharing and exploring those ideas. This session is for teachers of all subject areas who are concerned about helping their students make sense of these contentious, polarized times.
This professional development session addresses:
- Building a Community and Facilitating Charged Conversations: It is important to establish a community that accounts for a diversity of student experiences, readiness, interests, and learning profiles. Teachers will learn how to create an inclusive environment and build trust amongst their students. They will be introduced to a variety of approaches and techniques that will build facilitation skills that are important for successful discourse when contemplating challenging issues.
- Creating Opportunities for Social Impact: How can we as educators channel the passion and energy of our students to be thoughtful, meaningful, and impactful? Using a series of frameworks, teachers will be introduced to a variety of strategies to empower students to take action.
This professional development session will be conducted and facilitated in partnership with Close Up Foundation. It will provide teachers across disciplines with practical tools and resources that they can use to frame and facilitate discussions, whether those discussions are with advisories, homerooms, or other community-building groups.
When:
Tuesday, August 18, 2020
4:00-5:30 pm ET
Price:
NNSP Members $25
Non-Members $50