when classroom conversations become emotional, teachers must maintain a safe, respectful classroom.
When classroom conversations become emotionally-charged, it is your role to help students feel heard and understood. When the topic of the discussion is emotionally-charged, it is important to view yourself as a facilitator and manage the conversation in a way that maintains a safe and respectful classroom environment.
There are many topics that can spark an emotional classroom conversation. News stories, events in the community and unexpected tragic events, such as the death of a member of the school community can generate dialogue that can deepen wounds or facilitate healing and understanding. Here are a few guidelines to follow. While a variety of emotions can emerge during a class discussion, these guidelines are divided into two categories: contentious conversations and sad conversations.
It is essential that teachers never use their position to promote their own political viewpoint or religious beliefs. This is both unethical and, in many cases, against school policy. Let your students know that when these kinds of conversations come up that your intent is not to persuade them of a particular viewpoint or conviction.
There are many topics that can spark an emotional classroom conversation. News stories, events in the community and unexpected tragic events, such as the death of a member of the school community can generate dialogue that can deepen wounds or facilitate healing and understanding. Here are a few guidelines to follow. While a variety of emotions can emerge during a class discussion, these guidelines are divided into two categories: contentious conversations and sad conversations.
It is essential that teachers never use their position to promote their own political viewpoint or religious beliefs. This is both unethical and, in many cases, against school policy. Let your students know that when these kinds of conversations come up that your intent is not to persuade them of a particular viewpoint or conviction.
Contentious Conversations
Teachers should:
1. Provide factual information
2. Cut off all rhetoric that expresses hate towards individuals or specific groups
3. Model respectful dialogue
4. Reflect the content and emotion of student contributions
5. Remind students of and enforce classroom ground rules and conversation norms
6. Return to regular classroom activities as soon as students can focus on that work
7. Keep parents, school counselors, and administrators informed as needed
8. Articulate their role in the classroom as a facilitator, not proselytizer of a particular viewpoint
Teachers should not:
1. Enter into a debate with students
2. Tell students what to believe
3. Invalidate students' feelings
4. Ignore or normalize hateful or discriminatory comments
5. Escalate volatile students
6. Allow the conversation to derail regular plans longer than necessary
For information on controversial conversations, check out this article on the TED-Ed blog.
Sad Conversations
Teachers should:
1. Provide factual information, following talking points if they have been provided
2. Articulate and express their own emotions
3. Provide an opportunity for students to express their emotions
4. Help students understand their experience by practicing active listening techniques
5. Connect students with school counselors and other helpful resources when necessary
6. Keep parents and other stakeholders informed as necessary
Teachers should not:
1. Ignore students' emotions or attempt to cheer them up. When students are grieving, it is important to give them space to process their emotions. If you cheer students up with humor or ignore their feelings, you are sending them the message that it is not OK to be sad and that they should put on an "I'm OK" mask.
2. Make promises and predictions about the future. We might hope that things get better, but we cannot guarantee it. In emotional events, focus on the moment at hand and help students leverage their internal strength and resources to manage their pain.
3. Insert your personal worldviews or religious beliefs into the conversation.
4. Act in the capacity of a counselor or social worker. This is unethical and can be dangerous. Refer students to a school counselor or student services specialist if the student needs services beyond what you are trained to handle.
1. Provide factual information, following talking points if they have been provided
2. Articulate and express their own emotions
3. Provide an opportunity for students to express their emotions
4. Help students understand their experience by practicing active listening techniques
5. Connect students with school counselors and other helpful resources when necessary
6. Keep parents and other stakeholders informed as necessary
Teachers should not:
1. Ignore students' emotions or attempt to cheer them up. When students are grieving, it is important to give them space to process their emotions. If you cheer students up with humor or ignore their feelings, you are sending them the message that it is not OK to be sad and that they should put on an "I'm OK" mask.
2. Make promises and predictions about the future. We might hope that things get better, but we cannot guarantee it. In emotional events, focus on the moment at hand and help students leverage their internal strength and resources to manage their pain.
3. Insert your personal worldviews or religious beliefs into the conversation.
4. Act in the capacity of a counselor or social worker. This is unethical and can be dangerous. Refer students to a school counselor or student services specialist if the student needs services beyond what you are trained to handle.