TeachersFirst's Resources Related to Difficult Conversations

As teachers, we frequently tackle uncomfortable subjects in the classroom, but polarizing public conversations or events in the news can sometimes make these subjects downright difficult to discuss with students. The resources in this collection will give you ideas on how to start and facilitate tough conversations about topics like inequality, injustice, and politics sensitively while still accomplishing learning goals. You’ll also find lessons and activities to encourage respectful conversation, inclusivity, empathy, and understanding.

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Frank - FRANK

Grades
6 to 12
1 Favorites 0  Comments
 
Frank is about the facts and dangers of drugs use. This realistic view of drugs' effect on the body and on a person's life is a fresh (and "frank") approach ...more
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Frank is about the facts and dangers of drugs use. This realistic view of drugs' effect on the body and on a person's life is a fresh (and "frank") approach to the topic. Sections of the site include how to react to pressure to try drugs and what to do if you believe a friend is experimenting with drugs.

tag(s): difficult conversations (58), drugs and alcohol (27)

In the Classroom

Use this site as part of a science or health class on drug and health related topics. Share this site in a collection of links for students to reference when researching such topics. Have students role-play a video or create a talking avatar on how to resist peer pressure to try drugs. Use a tool such as Voki, reviewed here.

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ProCon - Procon.org

Grades
7 to 12
7 Favorites 2  Comments
  
Procon presents controversial issues in a non-partisan manner. Find current issues with balanced information to promote critical thinking without bias. Categories include Education,...more
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Procon presents controversial issues in a non-partisan manner. Find current issues with balanced information to promote critical thinking without bias. Categories include Education, Entertainment & Sports, Elections & Presidents, Science & Technology, and New Topics among others. Issues can include Abortion, Euthanasia, Climate Change, Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Health Care Reform, Obesity, and the Death Penalty, just to name a few. Read the information on each issue in a Pro and Con format along with background information, and discussion questions. Some included video clips. Some topics are controversial, so adults using this site with young people may want to go directly to a single issue rather than having them browse openly.

tag(s): climate change (87), critical thinking (112), debate (37), difficult conversations (58), persuasive writing (55), politics (113)

In the Classroom

Using controversial topics that have more than one side is a great way to develop critical thinking and problem solving. Find issues on this site that relate to your curriculum and use them as an entry point for a new unit. Use the teaching resources found on the top menu under the Teacher's Corner. Use this site to teach how to distinguish facts from opinions, using information to write essays or create speeches, or hold a class debate. You may want to facilitate student persuasive writing by using an outline such as Persuasion Map, reviewed here, to help them organize their thinking. Help students develop flexibility in their thinking by having them take part in a difficult conversation and argue a side they do NOT agree with. This will also help students think about how to refute a point the opposition will make. Focus on critical thinking with your students to develop skills needed for life. Use as a whole class activity or for individual students to find an issue of interest to them. Gifted students often think deeply on such issues at an early age and will find these topics of great interest. Use this site to guide a deliberate discussion or debate.

Comments

I also love this site, but I don't see any advertising on there at all. The site is free. Not sure how they stay afloat but I'm glad they do. For me, it is better than Opposing Viewpoints database for its depth, ease of use, and lack of registration/passwords. I use it for student debates on current events, and my wife (an English teacher) uses it for persuasive essays and role play debates. ProCon, , Grades: 0 - 12
I've used this and it's great! Balanced, has good resources. Helps students see both sides of an issue. Frances, CT, Grades: 6 - 8

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CurriConnects Book List: Books for Tough Situations - TeachersFirst

Grades
K to 12
0 Favorites 0  Comments
Use this CurriConnects list to find independent reading books to help students facing difficult circumstances such as divorce, loss, bullying, deployed parents, friendship issues, eating...more
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Use this CurriConnects list to find independent reading books to help students facing difficult circumstances such as divorce, loss, bullying, deployed parents, friendship issues, eating disorders, and more. CurriConnects thematic book lists include ISBN numbers for ordering or searching, interest grade levels, ENL/ESL levels and Lexiles'''® to match with student independent reading levels to challenge, not frustrate. Don't miss other CurriConnects themes being added regularly.

tag(s): difficult conversations (58), disabilities (29), divorce (6), eating disorders (7), emotions (46), social and emotional learning (80), social skills (22)

In the Classroom

Build student literacy skills and help students facing personal challenges. Reading about personally meaningful topics will help students work through them. It will also build the important reading strategy of connecting what they read to what they already know. Keep this list handy in your Favorites to suggest options when a student seems to need them. Since the list includes topics for all levels of maturity, you might want to share portions of it rather than the entire list. You may also want to tell parents about it during parent conferences or when situations arise. As always, allow students to self- select independent reading books from a list of options. Don't forget to share the list with the school and local libraries so they can bring in some of the books on interlibrary loan, if needed. Your school counselor will also appreciate this list. CurriConnects are a great help for teachers and parents who have lost school library/media specialists due to budget cuts.

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Kid's Health - The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media

Grades
3 to 12
1 Favorites 0  Comments
  
Divided into parts For Parents, For Kids, For Teens, and For Educators Kid's Health presents health issues in an attractive, frank, and appealing format. The younger kid's section features...more
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Divided into parts For Parents, For Kids, For Teens, and For Educators Kid's Health presents health issues in an attractive, frank, and appealing format. The younger kid's section features topics like How the Body Works, Staying Safe, Feelings, and several more. In addition, some of the pages are available in Spanish. Other sections include health issues for grown ups and a glossary, the latter of which is available in Spanish. Video clips include health-related topics featuring well-known athletes. The teen section provides answers to multiple teen questions about health including sexual issues, drug and alcohol concerns, food and fitness, your body, your mind, and hot topics. The parents' section has regular health topics about raising a child.

tag(s): body systems (40), difficult conversations (58), emotions (46), fitness (49), sexuality (15)

In the Classroom

Health teachers will want to share this site on their teacher web page or in class as part of sex ed units and study of disease. Younger students wondering about illnesses such as cancer will also be able to find good information, written at a level they can understand.

This site contains open discussion of topics. We suggest that you preview it to be sure it is in compliance with your school's policies. Some portions discuss topics that will cause great giggles among less mature students, so preview and set the tone before trungin students loose.

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Keep it Real - South Carolina Educational Television Commission

Grades
9 to 12
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This site bravely tackles some of the serious issues faced by teens who engage in inappropriate, risk-taking behavior. Click videos for a series of interactive videos that involve students...more
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This site bravely tackles some of the serious issues faced by teens who engage in inappropriate, risk-taking behavior. Click videos for a series of interactive videos that involve students in real-life decision making and allow them to see the consequences of their choices. The this program focuses on some common problems experienced by young people and provides suggestions for coping withthem. Warning: Some linka contain some graphic images, so use with caution.

tag(s): adolescence (11), difficult conversations (58)

In the Classroom

Post a link to this site on your web page for parents and teens to view at home. Share with students with students during your health classes. Share with your school's counselor as a resource for information to share with parents, students, and staff.

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Suicide Concerns

Grades
8 to 12
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Know the warning signs and don't ignore them, suicide is the third leading cause of death in teens and young 'twenty-somethings'. Visit this site to get the clues, information to ...more
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Know the warning signs and don't ignore them, suicide is the third leading cause of death in teens and young 'twenty-somethings'. Visit this site to get the clues, information to help someone who is at risk, and the Girls and Boys Town Hotline Number for suicide prevention.

tag(s): difficult conversations (58), emotions (46)

In the Classroom

Post a link to this site on your web page for parents and teens to view at home. Share with students during your health classes. Share with your school's counselor as a resource for information to share with parents, students, and staff.

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Mr. Rogers on Anger - Self Control - PBS

Grades
K to 1
0 Favorites 0  Comments
Mr. Rogers has helped generations of young children understand their emotions. In this page, Mr. Rogers identifies the strong underlying feelings that can be the root of extreme anger....more
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Mr. Rogers has helped generations of young children understand their emotions. In this page, Mr. Rogers identifies the strong underlying feelings that can be the root of extreme anger. He explains the need for limits and guidance to redirect intense feelings and foster self-control.

tag(s): difficult conversations (58), emotions (46)

In the Classroom

Put a link on your classroom web page to share with parents. Share with your school's counselor as a resource for information to share with parents, students, and staff.

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What to Do if You are Raped - American Academy of Family Practitioners

Grades
6 to 12
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Background on rape, and what to do if one becomes a victim. Straightforward information for women about rape, rape prevention, and what do to if they are raped. This is ...more
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Background on rape, and what to do if one becomes a victim. Straightforward information for women about rape, rape prevention, and what do to if they are raped. This is an emergency resource of which parents and teens should be aware.

tag(s): difficult conversations (58), sexuality (15)

In the Classroom

Bookmark this site for use when counseling students or addressing issues on sexual harrassment or rape in the classroom. Share with your school's counselor as a resource for information to share with parents, students, and staff.

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Parenting Corner Q &A: HIV and AIDS - American Academy of Pediatrics

Grades
1 to 12
0 Favorites 0  Comments
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers answers for parents about HIV/AIDS. Intended for adults, this site may also provide basic information for high school students. ...more
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The American Academy of Pediatrics offers answers for parents about HIV/AIDS. Intended for adults, this site may also provide basic information for high school students.

tag(s): difficult conversations (58), hiv/aids (16), sexuality (15)

In the Classroom

Offer this site as one of many sources for student research during your HIV/AIDS unit in health class. Challenge students to shift perspective and think about how they would tell a younger sibling or their own (future) child about HIV/AIDS.

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Talking About Homosexuality in a Secondary School

Grades
9 to 12
3 Favorites 0  Comments
A straightforward look at strategies for approaching a difficult topic from a British source. The goal of the process is eliminating myths, confusion, and fear on the part of students....more
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A straightforward look at strategies for approaching a difficult topic from a British source. The goal of the process is eliminating myths, confusion, and fear on the part of students. There are interesting ideas here, even if this is a topic you don't plan to address directly.

tag(s): difficult conversations (58), hiv/aids (16), sexuality (15)

In the Classroom

Bookmark this site for use when counseling students or addressing issues on homophobia in the classroom. Share with your school's counselor as a resource for information to share with parents, students, and staff.
 This resource requires PDF reader software like Adobe Acrobat.

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