Think, Talk, Justify- Encouraging Student Conversation

December had hit, and I was generally dissatisfied.  The end of the semester is always a time for general reflection, and to begin thinking of the new year ahead.  And I was dissatisfied.  I teach seniors in government, and I have long felt it my mission to help my students emerge from our time together prepared to engage as active citizens.  A key element of citizenship that I believe is severely lacking in all generations right now is the ability to engage in a productive conversation with someone, and not have both parties focus on trying to prove the other wrong.  Was I doing enough to encourage this kind of productive conversation in our croom?

Over winter break I rewrote nearly my entire government curriculum, with an emphasis on students engaging in reasoned and productive conversation, and thinking with a solution-oriented mind rather than one solely focused on the argument.  The areas of most significant change have come in the presence of more cultivated opportunities for discussion and in assessments.

Discussion has always been a presence in our class, but I wanted something more substantial, that not only allowed for the students to have a voice, but also encouraged the students to see the importance of having a substantiated opinion, as well as the importance of valuing multiple perspectives on an issue.  To this end, the SAC, or "Structured Academic Controversy", has been a valuable tool.  A SAC is generally defined as "a discussion that moves students beyond either/or debates to a more nuanced historical synthesis."  A fantastic, full explanation of a SAC is found here, but in essence the teacher should pick a topic that has current or historical pertinence, and then ask students to adopt a point of view that is substantiated with evidence.  As a teacher, the best part is the freedom that this format affords.

For our government class, I have used the following format to structure our discussion:

1. Start with an essential question tied both to what we are covering at the time, but that also connect to current events.  The first SAC we worked through, as we began talking about the foundations for the Constitution, asked students to respond to the following statement- “Freedom/Privacy is more important than Order/Security.”  Most recently students worked with the following- “What are appropriate regulations on guns? Some, none, all?  If some, which ones?  Whatever your small group’s answer, be ready to defend it.”
2. Determine how the students will work.  Since my classes are so large, and I want to make sure that every student has a chance to speak up, I generally start with small groups.  For the first prompt, I assigned each small group with a POV to research, and to prepare to discuss that view when we came together into a larger group.  They, of course, had ample time to discuss their own point of view as well.  For our discussion on gun regulation, students worked in small groups again, but this time I tasked the students with achieving a group consensus, which they then presented to the class.
3. Stress the three keys- Think, Talk, Justify!  I want the students to think deeply about these questions, and that includes consideration of perspectives different than their own.  I want the students to voice.  Our students have a remarkable voice, and they need to know that adults value their thoughts.  Finally, I want the students to back up their views with reasonable evidence beyond social media and family.

We discussed the gun regulation prompt the week immediately following the Parkland shooting, and to be honest, I was a little nervous about how it would go.  I knew going in that I had students who had strong feelings about guns, but I trusted them to be able to engage in reasonable discussion and consensus building.  And, as usual, they knocked it out of the park.  There is undeniable effort in structuring the discussion, providing possible sources, facilitating the conversation, etc. on the part of the teacher.  But the payoff is so worth it.  To see a group of 17 and 18-year-olds reach a consensus on the topic of gun regulation at a time when passions are high, and compromise seems far-fetched was truly inspiring to me.  

Our students have a voice, and that voice has value.  The real question will be- do we have ears to listen?

Yes I'm Angry

I'll try to keep this one short.  Many of the posts I've written here have been written in reaction to something that has weighed on me, something I've found troubling.  And I've always told myself to wait a few days before I wrote, to get my thoughts straight, to cool down before I post something.  Not this time.

I've purposely written this right now, when I'm angry.  When I'm not cool.  And I offer no apologies for it.

I am sick and tired of watching the news and seeing children run for their lives from a school building.  I am a father, and my son is in elementary school.  I love him with everything I am.  And every child I see running from school has his face.  I am a teacher, and I have over a hundred students who I love deeply.  And every child I see running from school has their face.  I am tired of thinking of parents who have lost their most precious thing.  And although I am inspired, I am tired of reading about teachers who have lost their lives shielding their students.  I am tired of being overcome with emotion.  I am angry.

Parkland was the 18th time since January that I have seen children in this situation.  18.  Since January.  And 18 times I have seen our "leaders" make speeches and tweet about how sorry they are.  And I no doubt that this will the 18th time that nothing will change, no action will be taken.  (And yes, I put "leaders" in quotation marks, because leadership is not found in the title, it's found in the action.) 

And, since the Parkland tragedy, it is the 18th time this year where I've seen social media filled with excuses for why something is not part of the problem.  It's not a gun problem, it's not a people problem, it's the school's fault, it's the parent's fault, heck I even saw the President seemingly blame it on the students for not reporting this student.  Here's the deal- I'm not here to tell you that I know who is to blame.  All I know is that it is EVERYONE'S problem.

I'm also not here to pretend like I know the perfect answer to these senseless tragedies.  All I know is that I stand with those who want everyone to save their sorry's and tears, and focus on the tough conversations that need to come next, and the actions that need to be taken.  These conversations need to include everything.  We need to be able to say the word "gun", and not automatically assume that every gun is going to be taken from every American.  We ought to be able to have real conversations about guns.  We need to talk about mental health.  We need to talk about what schools can do to better protect students.  We need to realize that not every possible answer is the right one, but that we have throw everything on the table and talk about it.  And more than that, we have got to act on it.  We need to understand that it's not just DC that should be talking about this; these conversations need to be happening in our schools.  Every teacher should be angry when they see schoolchildren fleeing for their lives.  What has made me, perhaps, the angriest has been to see fellow teachers focus their feelings on something other than the students in their charge.  If you are a teacher, and your first and foremost concern is not the safety of your students, I don't get you.  If you are a teacher, and you're not angry about this, I don't get you.

I had lesson plans yesterday, and for the most part I followed them.  But before we worried about that, I told my students that I love them.  I don't do that enough.  My thoughts are consumed with the thought of "What is that was my son?", "What if those were my students?", "What if I lost even just one?"

In our croom, my love for my students is real. 
Their safety is my priority. 
My anger is real. 
And my motivation for action is real as well.

Please, call your legislators.  Annoy them with pleas to make the conversations and action a reality and a priority!  If you live near me, here is the info for Congresswoman Susan Brooks- 1030 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2276
Fax: 202-225-0016