Navigating Tough Conversations: An Educator's Guide to Civil Discourse

As educators, you have the opportunity to teach students essential skills for engaging in thoughtful and respectful conversations. Civil discourse—discussing differing opinions with respect and openness—is an important part of this. Whether discussing social trends or current events, students benefit from learning how to navigate these conversations with respect. This helps create a classroom environment where everyone feels valued, even when opinions differ.

Human skills instruction supports civil discourse by helping students develop skills like self-awareness, empathy, and communication. These are the building blocks of productive, respectful conversations and strong relationships.

With this in mind, we’re excited to introduce our new Civil Discourse Resource Guide for Educators. This free resource includes actionable strategies for educators on how to help students navigate challenging conversations that might come up in the classroom and create an environment where everyone feels heard and respected.

By focusing on the development of human skills, we’re not just preparing students for academic success—we’re helping them become thoughtful, empathetic communicators who can build stronger, more respectful communities.

Read the guide.