Civil Discourse: Classroom Conversations for Stronger Communities

by Joe Schmidt, Nichelle Pinkney

Build civil discourse with courage, understanding, belonging, and empathy.

Discomfort lies at the heart of all learning and growth, especially concerning discussions on difficult and complex topics like climate change, slavery, and police brutality. This book presents ways to help teachers become strong facilitators—not endorsers—of contentious conversations to promote a stronger sense of community.

There are four themes that arise when exploring civil courage, understanding, belonging, and empathy. This book is organized around these themes, each chapter providing resources for educators to teach the skills of discourse

How-to tips for bringing work beyond the classroom Chapter checklists to guide progress and assess learning Exploration of different types of discourse (dialogue, discussion, debate) and when to use each Steps for preparing a classroom for contentious conversations Activities to practice discourse and disagreement Addressing the problem of how to have politically and emotionally charged conversations in the classroom, this book guides 6-12 educators – particularly teachers of history, civics, ELA, and other social studies and humanities disciplines -- in facilitating discussions based on fact, intellectual reasoning, and mutual respect.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction

216 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 13, 2022

Reviews

[Kate O'Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific guide to having conversations on contentious issues in your classroom. It’s very practical with a lot of great resources embedded within. I would recommend it for all levels of educators from pre-service to veteran. Would be most effective as a book study in your department or school.

[Shane Gower · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re teaching social studies and not addressing contentious topics, you aren’t teaching social studies… this book provides a framework and strategies you can use in the classroom to support student critical thinking as they explore contentious issues. This book is helpful for educators concerned about being perceived as advocating for one side or the other or for being perceived as too biased. It helps you set up structures that allow for civic engagement and dialogue that are necessary within a healthy democracy!

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

As far as pedagogical texts, this one has it all. +An honest reflection with the reality of our political landscape and the danger that often puts teachers in. +Suggestions on how to get the strategy off the ground with a support network of the teams you work with AND administration. +Classroom strategies that fit a more modern classroom, evolving away from rote-memorization and sit-and-get teaching. I was lucky enough to be part of the Wisconsin Department of Instruction sponsored book study, but I would have paid double and been happy with it.

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! One of the first in the book list for my education class that has the layout of explaining an activity/process in the classroom and then additional attachments or changes that you could make in your classroom, if necessary.
Despite this, there were some self-explanatory pieces of this book that could have been left out, but some were also necessary for the argument being pushed.

[Amanda Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the concepts. Great protocols for application. I would have loved some QR codes to video exemplars or model lesson materials.

[readthescars · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read. Really helps you understand why it's important to discuss contentious issues and gives a really good overview of how to do it. My only issue is with the empathy section. I feel this book did not give enough consideration to the existing relationships of students and extent to which bullying impacts these conversations and the ability for your classroom to become a community. You can do everything right in your own classroom, but what happens between students outside your classroom is something that can completely undermine the environment you are trying to make. Student's may be civil during your class debates, but the second they leave your room that all goes out the window. I'd like more strategies for managing that issue because if bullying is involved, I really don't see how any attempts to build relationships and empathy between students would work; especially at the secondary level.

[Matt]

A comprehensive and accessible resource for teachers in grades 4-12 who want to facilitate better student discussions in their classrooms. Topics such as immigration and elections should be standard issues for discussing in schools. Yet due to the volatile nature of today's interactions, especially online, teachers are less willing to engage their classrooms in conversations around them. It makes sense that schools should be the place to practice civil discourse. The authors provide an essential guide for making this happen.

[Deb White · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must for all educators as well as librarians, museum curators, and public facing employees of public spaces. We must re-teach the art and science of civil discourse to move past the current extremist imposed norms of yelling, insulting, and not reflecting on the messages being expressed. Joe and Nichelle provide a thoughtful and practical framework for readers that is accessible for any setting, especially the classrooms of all levels.

[Trent Mikesell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a fantastic book! I think every teacher should read it. It gives great ideas on WHY it's important for students to have difficult topics in school. Then, it provides practical ways to make this happen in a safe and respectful way. I wish we could follow these tips in the public space, but, at the very least, if we could teach today's students how to have respectful and civil conversations, we'd be creating a much safer space in the future.

[Lavabearian (Jessica) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for a work book group to be able to have conversations with teachers about utilizing these methods. I found a lot of professional validation in reading this as I think I try to do many of these things already. My only concern about this book and strategy is that I think it will take a top-down effort for this to work.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big Takeaway: "Language sets the tone." OR or Versus, Contentious or Controversial, Discourse, Discussion, Dialogue or Debate...practical strategies most applicable to full-time class but adaptable for teaching sessions and guest speaking/presentations.

[Reagan Kuennen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4 ⭐️ this has some good tactics and strategies to engage students in civil discourse but I felt like half of the book was common sense? Idk.