Conversation-Based Classrooms
Fostering Civil Discourse in Diverse and Dynamic Classrooms
By Sarah Lane, Sphere Education Initiatives
Editor’s note: We met Sarah at a recent National Science Teachers Association conference this spring and were impressed by the timely work that Sphere is doing to support respectful and inclusive classroom dialogue. We asked Sarah to share a little something about how educators can engage with their free resources.
How do we encourage students to have meaningful conversations about complex topics?
You already face the everyday challenges of engaging students—whether that means getting them to want to talk, supporting respectful dialogue, or navigating classroom dynamics. Additionally, many educators find themselves helping students process a wide range of perspectives in a time when students encounter a wide range of opinions and communication styles.
While disagreements are a natural part of any society, recent years have brought heightened attention to differences in public opinion and communication. According to research by More in Common, Americans have “perception gaps”—a disconnect between what we think people with differing views believe and what they actually believe. We’re less divided than we assume, which lends itself to opportunities for more meaningful dialogue in classrooms..
Why This Matters for Educators
Students are regularly exposed to a variety of perspectives, which can sometimes lead to challenges in communication and connection. Therefore, civil discourse—the ability to speak, listen, and engage with respect—is a critical skill.
Educators are uniquely positioned to change this trajectory. We can help students better understand diverse perspectives, find common ground, and realize that disagreement isn’t a bad thing. These are not just academic skills, but lifelong skills that promote collaboration, understanding, and community.
What Is Civil Discourse?
The National Institute for Civil Discourse at the University of Arizona (2011) defines “civil discourse” as:
“Robust, honest, frank and constructive dialogue and deliberation that seeks to advance the public interest.”
That means it’s not about avoiding hard topics—it’s about learning how to approach them well.
Sphere Education Initiatives, founded in 2019, is a nonprofit that advances this kind of discourse through viewpoint-diverse resources and professional development, at no cost to educators. One teacher who engaged with Sphere shared,
“My students have benefited because they’ve been able to have conversations they wouldn’t normally have in their safe bubble.”
Each summer, Sphere brings together over 400 educators through its Sphere Summit—a scholarship program where teachers leave with confidence and tools to help students connect across divides and engage meaningfully in civil discourse.
Let’s Get Students Talking!
Here are tips and resources to begin (or deepen) your civil discourse journey with students:
- Start with Yourself
Build your own understanding of civil discourse—what it is, what it isn’t, and how to model it. Sphere’s Civil Discourse Primer is a great starting point. It includes the helpful acronym AWARE: Assert, Wonder, Accept, Respect, Establish. Use these concepts to set expectations and create norms that go beyond general classroom rules.
- Lay the Foundation
Before diving into hot topics, help students build empathy and shared values. Try activities like:
- the “Same O – Different O” game to highlight shared and differing backgrounds and interests;
- a gallery walk to define what civility looks like; or
- “I Am” poems to explore identity.
These activities are found in Sphere’s Civil Discourse Toolkit for Middle School Teachers. They help students appreciate each other’s lived experiences—essential context for understanding diverse viewpoints.
- Keep Discussions Fresh
Use a variety of discussion formats to build engagement and keep things dynamic. A topic can be discussed using a variety of strategies. Try a new one, like four corners, fishbowl, or philosophical chairs. Movement and novelty increase participation and interest, especially when students know they’ll be challenged to think and share. For students needing more support, offer sentence stems, discussion starters, or engage in other strategies for students who may need a boost.
- Analyze Sources and Build Arguments
Support students in analyzing primary and secondary sources as they build on their opinions and evaluate the perspectives of others. Use multiple viewpoints on single issues. In addition to Sphere’s resources on engaging in discourse, you could integrate primary sources from the Library of Congress and use engaging video tutorials such as “Evaluate Sources to Build an Argument” by Retro Report.
- Strengthen Rhetorical Skills
Support students in developing rhetorical thinking—skills that help them express their ideas with clarity and emotional intelligence. This strengthens their ability to communicate effectively, even during disagreement.
- Reflect and Set Goals
Help students evaluate their participation and growth with ready-made self- or peer-evaluation tools. Try starting with a focus on one or two class norms per discussion. Offer reflection time even when things go smoothly—it builds consistency and purpose.
- Make It Interdisciplinary
Civil discourse fits everywhere. Plan for meaningful civil discourse across subject areas and in collaboration with your colleagues. Explore Sphere’s content across English language arts, social studies (including civics and economics), and science and technology. Infusing discourse across content areas reinforces it as a life skill, not just a classroom activity.
Leading with Discourse
Classrooms are places of connection, curiosity, and courage. Every discussion you foster helps shape a generation that listens, thinks critically, and works toward solutions. You are engaging in critical work as an educator, fostering civil discourse in your classroom, which instills key skills to advancing and preserving respect in our society. Let’s build a culture of civil discourse, one conversation at a time.
Sphere Is Ready to Help
Need ideas, resources, or professional learning to get started? Reach out to Sphere. Everything we offer is free, accessible, and designed to support you where you are.
Sarah Lane is an educator engagement specialist for Sphere, focusing on Sphere on the Road and alumni engagement efforts. She has K–12 experience, including being a National Board-Certified Teacher, instructional coach and facilitator, member of administrative teams, and curriculum writer. She has taught in three states and across urban and rural spaces. Sarah enjoys partnering with educators and administrators to foster spaces of civil discourse and community.
