Tools
Topic-Specific Resources
Perceptions of whether, how and why different conversations are considered challenging will vary. In any case, educators are likely to face added difficulties if lacking context or resources to responsively navigate high-stakes topics. The resources below are offered as a starting point to think about effective guidelines and objectives when approaching critical and polarizing issues.
The specific topics included here are in response to requests and suggestions from the school community, and are by no means an exhaustive list of important or complex conversations. If there are other topic areas or current events that could benefit from additional resources to help navigate, please send us your requests
Recommended Literature
Ahenkorah, E. (2020). Why Safe and Brave Spaces don't work, and what you can do instead. Medium.
Ferguson, Ge and Schwartz (2023).Managing Difficult Conversations in the Classroom. Toronto Metropolitan University, Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.
Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center. (2020). Strategies for challenges in dialogue facilitation.
University of Michigan Center for Research on Learning & Teaching. (n.d.) Guidelines for Discussing Difficult or High-Stakes Topics:
Haslam, R.E. (2022). Interrupting Bias: Calling Out vs. Calling In. Seed the Way LLC.
Merculieff, I. & Roderick, L. (2013). Stop Talking: Indigenous Ways of Teaching and Learning and Difficult Dialogues in Higher Education. Anchorage, AK: University of Alaska Anchorage.
Howard, J. (2019) 鈥淗ow to Hold a Better Class Discussion.鈥 The Chronicle of Higher Education. [Excerpts]
Inclusive Teaching Forum: Discussion Guidelines. (n.d.). Columbia University Center for Teaching and Learning. Retrieved October 16, 2023, from
The Guardian: