Plan for difficult conversations by establishing norms, and practicing them as you would other procedures and skills.
When conversations become emotionally charged, it can be difficult to maintain a classroom where students feel respected and heard. It is essential to lay out guidelines for classroom conversations in the beginning of the year.
Plan and practice
1) Develop these guidelines at the beginning of the year
2) Solicit your students' feedback and advice when you develop these guidelines
3) Teach your students these guidelines
4) Practice having neutral conversations using these guidelines
5) Hold students accountable to the norms and rules in all conversations
2) Solicit your students' feedback and advice when you develop these guidelines
3) Teach your students these guidelines
4) Practice having neutral conversations using these guidelines
5) Hold students accountable to the norms and rules in all conversations
SAmple Guidelines
1) We listen to each other when we speak & wait our turn to share
2) We express ourselves concisely so that everyone has a chance to share
3) Before we speak, we summarize what our classmate has said to show we understand his or her perspective
4) We acknowledge our classmates emotions and accept that their experience might be different from ours
5) We respect each other and avoid personal attacks
6) We avoid hurtful rhetoric about race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or other personal traits and characteristics
2) We express ourselves concisely so that everyone has a chance to share
3) Before we speak, we summarize what our classmate has said to show we understand his or her perspective
4) We acknowledge our classmates emotions and accept that their experience might be different from ours
5) We respect each other and avoid personal attacks
6) We avoid hurtful rhetoric about race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation or other personal traits and characteristics