Can We Talk?: Encouraging Conversation in High School Classrooms

The proverbial "lost art of conversation" has become more than a clich. Once, young people learned the art of conversation outside of the classroom-in their homes, in social groups, and with their peers. Today, such human encounters are limited, partly because of the ubiquitous presence of technology. Face-to-face conversation offers a different and vital kind of connection, one that is at the core of our humanity and essential for a democratic society. As teachers, we have a responsibility to help our students find their voices and truly listen to the voices they hear. This book offers an understanding of what students and research tell us about the biggest hurdles to fruitful conversations, particularly in the age of remote learning, along with: Techniques for encouraging and guiding focused conversations. How to help students feel heard and seen during class discussions. Practical strategies for navigating difficult conversations. Ways to use conversation to help students hone their writing. At a time in history when the world is so divided on so many issues, and when technology often hinders rather than facilitates true human connection, the answer to the question "Can we talk?" is that we, as teachers, must make conversations happen. The strategies and activities described in this book are easily integrated into an already existing curriculum and will allow students to become not only better speakers, but better writers, better thinkers, and better human beings.