In this episode, Sarah Lane speaks to two exceptional school leaders--Julian Braxton and Bruce Stubblefield-- to explore the essential role that relationship building plays in creating spaces where civil discourse can flourish. Hear them talk about why trust and vulnerability must come before complex conversations and how teacher leadership can effectively transform school cultures. Whether you're a teacher, administrator, or educational leader, this conversation offers hope and actionable strategies for bridging divides in your community.

Main Topics:

• Why Relationship Building Is Crucial for Civil Discourse (01:59)
• Inquiry-Based Learning and Teacher Leadership (03:44)
• The Importance of Modeling Authenticity and Respect (08:34)
• The Fear of Cancellation and Creating Safe Classroom Norms (12:59)
• Establishing School Culture from Leadership Down (16:16)
• Connecting Students Across Geographic and Political Divides (20:17)
• Breaking Down Assumptions Through Personal Stories (24:17)
• Creating Opportunities for Staff Connection and Trust (28:08)
• Providing Intentional Resources Without Overwhelming Teachers (30:44)
• Finding Hope in Students and Committed Educators (37:52)
• Closing Advice: Listen to Teachers and Make It Collaborative (41:14)

Resources Mentioned:

• Sphere Summit
• Sphere's Principles of Civil Discourse Primer
• C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards
• I Never Thought of It That Way by Monica Guzman
• Facing History and Ourselves

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode, we tackle an intriguing paradox: why do we romanticize a past that was often brutal while feeling pessimistic about a present filled with unprecedented human flourishing? Join us in conversation with Chelsea Follett, scholar and author of Centers of Progress and the Grim Old Days Project, and Sean Kinnard, a social studies educator bringing these ideas to life in the classroom. Hear Chelsea and Sean discuss how nostalgic distortions of history can diminish students' sense of possibility and discover practical strategies for teaching the reality of human progress—from life expectancy data to inspiring stories of innovators who changed the world.

Main Topics:

• The Danger of Romanticizing the Past (02:13)
• What the Grim Old Days Project Reveals About Historical Reality (04:14)
• How Nostalgia Affects Students' Sense of Possibility (06:18)
• Teaching Gratitude Through Historical Perspective (09:19)
• Making Progress Concrete: Your Life in Numbers (14:45)
• Centers of Progress: Dubrovnik's Lessons on Freedom (18:04)
• Heroes of Progress and Student Empowerment (21:43)
• Alexandria and Taking Information Access for Granted (23:48)
• Navigating Information Overload and Misinformation (25:43)
• Moving Students From Consumers to Creators of Progress (31:02)
• Life Expectancy: The Most Powerful Progress Metric (34:53)

Resources Mentioned:

• Human Progress
• Centers of Progress
• The Grim Old Days
• Heroes of Progress
• Sphere Educational Resources

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, three veteran economics educators—Joanne Cho, Michael Arjona, and Dr. Travis Towne—share their strategies for transforming economics education through Sphere's real-world economics materials. With their extensive teaching experience, these educators reveal how they help students see economics everywhere, engage constructively across difference, and develop the critical thinking skills needed for informed citizenship. Discover practical approaches for making economics accessible, relevant, and engaging.

Main Topics:

• Why Civil Discourse Economics (02:19)
• Making Abstract Economics Concepts Engaging and Accessible (05:30)
• Adapting Lessons for Different Student Needs and Time Constraints (09:27)
• The Challenge of Balancing Depth with Curriculum Requirements (14:21)
• Using Civil Discourse to Navigate Economic Policy Discussions (16:47)
• Real-World Applications: From Vending Machines to National Debt (19:01)
• Teaching Strategies for Multiple Perspectives and Nuanced Thinking (25:51)
• Overcoming Student Apathy and Encouraging Deeper Engagement (33:00)
• Practical Advice: Finding Hot-Button Topics That Matter to Students (39:44)

Resources Mentioned:

• Sphere's Real-World Economics Materials
• Mercatus Institute Pluralist Lab
• Stossel in the Classroom
• Sphere Ed | Teaching Civic Culture Together

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can poetry and art break down barriers to meaningful classroom discussion? How can language arts teachers help their students be more AWARE while engaging in civil discourse? In this episode, Shannon Edwards, a seasoned high school English teacher, shares her transformative approach to using visual art and poetry to help students—particularly multilingual learners—find their voices and engage in civil discourse. Discover how the AWARE framework creates structured pathways for academic discussion while building student confidence and breaking down the fear of disagreement that has become increasingly common among today's secondary students.

Main Topics:

• Teaching Diverse Learners and Finding Unexpected Pathways (00:29)
• Early Mistakes and the Power of Visual Entry Points (03:47)
• Breaking down the five steps of AWARE: Accept, Wonder, Assert, Respect, Establish (07:59)
• Overcoming the Fear of Disagreement (19:20)
• Unexpected Student Talent and Confidence Building (23:27)
• Practical Implementation Strategies (28:05)
• Speaking and Listening Standards in Practice (35:59)

Resources Mentioned

• Civil Discourse Through Slam Poetry Overview
• Memory Circles Lesson Plan
• Introduction to Civil Discourse Notes
• Introduction to Slam Poetry
• Using Poetry to Understand Place, Setting, and Tone
• Using Poetry to Understand Others
• Using Poetry to Understand Society
• The AWARE Framework - Five-step discussion structure (Accept, Wonder, Assert, Respect, Establish) in Sphere's Civil Discourse Primer
• Four Freedoms Speech by Roosevelt
• Sphere Ed | Teaching Civic Culture Together

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

School leaders want to support civil discourse but often lack practical tools to get started. In this episode, Sarah Lane takes us inside the creation of Sphere Education Initiatives' leadership toolkit for civil discourse, sharing insights about moving from concept to classroom implementation while building trust between leaders and teachers.

Resources Mentioned

• Sphere Education Initiatives: http://sphere-ed.org
• Rand Corporation Study: "Policies Restricting Teaching About Race and Gender Spill Over into Other States and Localities"
• Sphere on the Road: https://www.sphere-ed.org/sphere-road

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.