Diane Ravitch

AUGUST 30, 2022

People familiar with DeSantis’s efforts to restrict classroom discussion of controversial topics had no trouble believing that he would try to prevent young people from reading controversial or challenging books. How many of these books have you read? Have your children read most of them? What on earth is going on in Florida?

Controversial Topics 52

Controversial Topics Public School Civics Education 52

Social Studies Success

JANUARY 18, 2023

Artifact boxes work great to introduce and era or region, but you must be careful to avoid controversial topics with these boxes. Give your students a reading over a topic and challenge your students to create a 3-D visual of what they have just read. Do not create one for the Civil War, Reconstruction or the Holocaust.

Artifacts 52

Artifacts Controversial Topics Social Studies Teaching 52

ED Surge

MARCH 30, 2023

I remember my childhood as a time of mutual exploration, where you encouraged us to discuss any manner of potentially controversial topics. This was not the way you raised me, though, mom.

Teaching 87

Teaching Controversial Topics Library Civics 87

The Hechinger Report

JANUARY 26, 2022

Related: Helping science teachers tackle misinformation and controversial topics. Too often, though, sensationalized news, media bias, personal bias and social media — particularly memes — do not get discussed. For example, at my school, I have not taken a class solely about navigating media.

Controversial Topics 98

Controversial Topics Civics Advocacy High School 98

The Hechinger Report

JULY 21, 2022

Hollander said climate and environmental education is still considered a controversial topic in Louisiana, with an economy that revolves around oil and gas. Controversial or not, many teachers around the country feel ill-equipped to teach the topic, according to a 2016 national survey of science teachers by NCSE and Penn State.

Controversial Topics 94

Controversial Topics Education Lesson Plan Artifacts 94

Sapiens

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024

As I listen in a little closer, I realize they’re debating everyone’s favorite controversial topic: headdresses worn by white people. As the professor pulls up the slides to begin her lecture, I hear one of the arguing students say, “But it’s just fun, we aren’t doing anything bad. I speak up. What do you think you’re talking about?

Archaeology 75

Archaeology Anthropology Controversial Topics Museum 75

The Hechinger Report

APRIL 15, 2022

Related: Helping science teachers tackle misinformation and controversial topics. One of the top subjects for those emergency credentials is middle school science: The state issued 83 emergency credentials in the topic in 2020. Some states have experienced epic teacher shortages for years.

Middle School 114

Middle School Controversial Topics Geography Political Science 114

Psych Learning Curve

FEBRUARY 21, 2020

This safety is reinforced by the implied or stated requirement for educators to be “apolitical” and avoid controversial topics with students, families, and colleagues. However, these are often reserved for contrived examples that are considered safe for the classroom.

Controversial Topics 52

Controversial Topics Psychology Elementary School Pedagogy 52

The Hechinger Report

FEBRUARY 11, 2018

I am no longer afraid to jump into uncomfortable conversations on controversial topics. I am better at engaging with my peers and the texts we are discussing and learning from them, because I know how to articulate myself and respond to others in a productive way. Sign up for our newsletter.

Controversial Topics 71

Controversial Topics High School Tradition Humanities 71

The Hechinger Report

MAY 23, 2020

She said timely and even controversial topics can help ignite students’ interest, and she’s currently developing a lesson plan on the “nature of science” that will use the coronavirus as the main theme.

Controversial Topics 107

Controversial Topics Middle School Lesson Plan Teaching 107

Pedagogy and Formation

NOVEMBER 24, 2022

Sharing family anecdotes & stories that enrich children's knowledge of the past (BUT avoid controversial topics!). Another wonderful thing about holiday seasons is that you have time to sit with our children and share the events of the year, and perhaps those we shared with family and friends in years past.

Controversial Topics 52

Controversial Topics Tradition History Humanities 52

Digital Promise

OCTOBER 15, 2016

Each activity incorporates the target words and controversial topic of the week: The math teacher assigns and discusses one or two problems in a format modeled on the Massachusetts state math assessment. On Tuesday , Wednesday , and Thursday , the math, social studies, and science teachers implement activities provided for them.

Controversial Topics 65

Controversial Topics Middle School Social Studies Library 65

Digital Promise

SEPTEMBER 22, 2016

Each activity incorporates the target words and controversial topic of the week: The math teacher assigns and discusses one or two problems in a format modeled on the Massachusetts state math assessment. On Tuesday , Wednesday , and Thursday , the math, social studies, and science teachers implement activities provided for them.

Controversial Topics 60

Controversial Topics Middle School Social Studies Library 60

Future of History

SEPTEMBER 17, 2020

After a spring of Zooming with established classes, Sarah Cooper finds new challenges using virtual breakout rooms this fall. Having to sort groups of unfamiliar students really makes a difference. She shares which breakout strategies still work and what needs extra care.

Controversial Topics 52

Controversial Topics History 52

Becoming a History Teacher

AUGUST 15, 2024

And critically, utilizing their expert knowledge to help their pupils to recognise the line between debating controversial topics and engaging in racist or bullying or even illegal behaviours. This means being familiar with their school’s policies around racism and bullying.

History 121

History Teaching Controversial Topics Tutoring 121

The Hechinger Report

JUNE 3, 2024

In my view, prioritizing positivity over tackling controversial topics turns student journalists into public relations specialists.

Controversial Topics 98

Controversial Topics High School Critical Thinking Education 98

The Hechinger Report

NOVEMBER 27, 2019

Colleges defend professors’ rights to pursue controversial topics of discussion such as climate change, police brutality, charter schools and pornography. The quality of a professor’s ideas is enhanced when scholarship isn’t tethered to profits, political motives and/or the propaganda of hate groups.

Controversial Topics 100

Controversial Topics Leadership Charter School Government 100

C3 Teachers

MAY 23, 2022

Preservice teachers who argue this perspective may believe that while some moments might call on us to make our political beliefs known, we can also rely on inquiry as a means to help students wade through controversial topics. Argument Stem #3: Yes, you can teach politically without fully disclosing your politics.

Social Studies 52

Social Studies Social Justice Controversial Topics Pedagogy 52

The Hechinger Report

JULY 11, 2018

Ultimately, we can’t prepare children for living in a rich, diverse democracy if we don’t expose them to the controversial topics inherent in our democracy.”. Most states either don’t test social studies, or the social studies test doesn’t really count toward adequate yearly progress.”.

Social Studies 111

Social Studies Civics Controversial Topics Elementary School 111

The Hechinger Report

OCTOBER 16, 2024

Kirk] Yet critics say it’s the presidents who are making the job more political by being so outspoken about controversial topics, rather than focusing on the central missions of their schools.

Leadership 81

Leadership Controversial Topics Cultures Tradition 81

The Hechinger Report

APRIL 9, 2018

And there are serious political consequences if the show, according to New York Times columnist Roxane Gay, continues to loosely introduce controversial topics to work through “a checklist of ‘real issues’…to demonstrate how the Conners are a modern American family.”

Controversial Topics 45

Controversial Topics K-12 Heritage Public School 45

Geogramblings

DECEMBER 14, 2023

Increasing the self-knowledge, esteem and confidence of our young people builds resilience and skill in tackling controversial topics and issues, as detailed earlier by Chowdhury.* Enable students to distinguish right from wrong and to respect the civil and criminal law of England.

Human Rights 40

Human Rights Geography Humanities Controversial Topics 40

Dangerously Irrelevant

SEPTEMBER 16, 2017

School leaders also must create safe spaces for teaching and learning about controversial topics. For instance, teaching online information literacy by pre-selecting a small handful of resources for students to analyze is vastly different from teaching students to navigate and make sense of our vast, complex online information commons.

Controversial Topics 94

Controversial Topics Government Tradition Leadership 94

The Hechinger Report

JANUARY 25, 2021

Kawashima-Ginsberg, director of the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University, said that because good history and civics instruction invites discussions about controversial topics, good classroom culture is especially important. Does every student feel like they matter?”

Teaching 132

Teaching Civics American History Controversial Topics 132

ED Surge

APRIL 26, 2024

Stark Division on LGBTQ+ Topics Researchers asked participants to decide on the appropriateness of potentially controversial topics like the discussion of sex ed, racism and LGBTQ+ issues at both the elementary and high school levels.

Education 133

Education Controversial Topics Civics Elementary School 133

The Hechinger Report

FEBRUARY 2, 2021

Palu’s principal backed her up, but she worries about backlash when she tackles controversial topics in the future. As a result, teachers are sometimes reluctant to discuss any controversial topics at all — especially in the current climate when the legitimacy of science and facts has been called into question.

Controversial Topics 110

Controversial Topics Social Studies American History Government 110

The Hechinger Report

OCTOBER 9, 2024

Even among supporters of diversity and inclusion, some progressive and independent academics concede that some elements of DEI could discourage discussion of controversial topics for fear of offending some students. So, Phillip, what goes through your head when we talk about this controversial topic? Hey, Phillip.

Controversial Topics 78

Controversial Topics Political Science Civics Tutoring 78

The Hechinger Report

OCTOBER 27, 2020

Discussion of controversial topics is now a core subject in their efforts, along with teaching media literacy and giving students the opportunity to engage in hands-on civic engagement projects. iCivics’ free videos and guides on teaching controversial topics will help you build a safe and respectful learning environment.

Controversial Topics 133

Controversial Topics Teaching Civics Civic Engagement 133