Facilitating Challenging Conversations in the classroom

Given the tenor of the times it is imperative that educators have the skills to facilitate difficult dialogue and create a classroom climate where ideas are heard, and individuals are not maligned. Access to information is at the fingertips of our students. Ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and ideas are part of the lives of our students. We need to remember that for our students, much of their lives revolve around their school campuses. Local politics have created situations that pit school personnel and families against each other. These issues do not trickle down to our students but have a direct impact on their ability to be their authentic selves at school. Learning how to facilitate challenging conversations empower educators to meet the needs of their students on many levels.