Teaching+Tough+Topics

Jessica Kristina Jami Danielle Sarah

**Key Points Researched:** * What qualifies as a "tough topic" * Coping with situations * Discussing, in depth, topics that have affected your area * Having students connect to the __topic__

The __idea__ of discussing tough topics in the classroom is a rather tough __topic__ in itself. Are there just some things that are better left unsaid, or does talking about touchy subjects have a place in the classroom? The article //Talking Tough Topics in the Classroom// provides readers with some insight with regards to this hot __topic__. The article brings together the stories of four separate teachers who were willing to discuss tough topics, such as gender, sexual orientations, death, and diversity, with their students. Whether or not readers __agree__ with the discussions these teachers had with their students, I beleive that each one does point out that students are aware of and, out of __sheer__ curiosity, are willing to talk about subjects that adults might find to be inappropriate. Of course, this does not mean that teachers should jump right into such discussion. But, something else I liked about this article was how the introduction, written by Jonathan G. Silin, gives teachers something to think about. According to Silin, encouraging students to ask questions about tough topics and to feel comfortable discussing their thoughts and personal stories with others can create a great sense of community in the classroom. Might that be something important to take into consideration? Overall, the article is really interesting, and I encourage anyone interested in the controversy to take a look at it. [|Talking Tough Topics in the Classroom] //-- Jessica Castronovo//

I think that teaching tough topics is something that every content area teacher dreads, especially when it involves Elementary School children. Especially after the September 11 attacks in New York, teaching tough topics has become a rather "hot topic" in the field of Education, and there has been much debate over how to go about teaching sensitive issues to students. The article //Teaching Controversial Issues// addresses one of the biggest concerns about tough topics--do we even teach them? The article presents four reasons why tough topics should be taught in school. (1) **Tough topics are in the curriculum**. Like it or not things like the Holocaust, September 11, and slavery are __present__ in not only the Social Studies curriculum, but also in required readings for a lot of literacy curricula; therefore, they are unavoidable and must be effectively taught in the classroom. (2) **Young people need to explore their values and develop their skills**. Even though, as teachers, we may be "afraid" to teach sensitive issues to students, our students have the right to explore these topics and __form__ their own opinions. (3) **Young people want to know more about global issues**. One of the __best__ ways to keep history from repeating itself is to not be in the dark about events that happened in it. Naturally, our students are going to be curious about things that may not be the most comfortable to talk about; however, instead of avoiding their questions, we have an obligation to students to __present__ the information in the most effective way that we can. (4) **Controversial issues can __help__ develop thinking skills**. Students have the right to explore issues and think about them, and, as teachers, it is our __job__ to __help__ them make informed decisions. The article expands much more on these four points, and also addresses strategies and activities that teachers can use to teach about tough topics in the classroom. I would recommend any teacher looking for a more "comfortable" way to talk about "not so comfortable issues" to check out this article. Teaching Controversial Issues **--Jami Centrella**

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This is great video to watch, because it demonstrates the importance of providing students with some kind of reassuring closure at the conclusion of a difficult unit (in this high school teacher's case, the Holocaust). Students are more likely to connect to and understand the topic if they are shown how it connects to them. When discussing tough topic in the classroom, I feel that this is especially important. For example, the students in this video are given the opportunity to watch a video of a common man speaking up about what he believed the President of the United States could be doing to help fix all of the horrible things that were happening around the time of World War II. This left students with the idea that no matter who they are, they have a voice that can be used to change something in the world that they do not like. Not only is this a great message for students to hear, but it also gives them hope that if, god forbid, an event similar to the Holocaust were ever to occur again, they have the potential to act and do something about it. //-- Jessica Castronovo //

We have all established that "tough topics" are well, tough to teach in schools. When approaching sensitive matters with students, it is hard to know where the "line" is and when you have crossed it. But what exactly is considered a "tough topic"? One of the things I think our society has become so focused on is this idea of obesity and healthy eating. From school cafeterias to the White House, developing healthy eating habits is something that is taking the schools by storm; however, how do you address this topic without making it so extreme to kids that healthy eating becomes a dangerous obsession? In the future, I really want to work with Middle School, and one of the most pressing issues in our society, is that of eating disorders. The average age for a young girl to begin dieting is age 9, and eating disorders are the number one mental illness to end in a fatality. That being said, how do you teach this topic? In schools, it is our responsibility to teach Health class and the topic of healthy eating and eating disorders will come into play. Depending on what age you teach, this can be an extremely sensitive topic to talk about, especially if you know or suspect one of your students may be struggling with the disorder. The website I found provides different ways to address the subject of eating disorders and healthy eating in the classroom. It provides teachers with resources on how to teach students good eating habits, without stressing to them the societal importance of "being thin" or "being beautiful". The resources and lessons provided on this website stress all aspects of the spectrum from the way society views eating habits to the way a healthy individual takes care of themselves. I think it is a really good resource for teachers because even if they choose not to use the lessons provided, it can at least provide a framework or a guide for teaching such sensitive material. [|Health Problems Series: Eating Disorders] **--Jami Centrella**

How teachers can help a grieving child
 The following is quoted from the above PDF file:


 * Elementary School Child **

Answer questions as clearly and accurately as possible; Provide creative outlets (art, music, journal, etc.); __Help__ identify and use support systems; Work with student around academic workload; Encourage taking breaks and some time alone; Allow for expression of feelings and emotions; Maintain routines and structure but allow for flexibility; Give choices whenever possible; Share that you care and are thinking about them; Create “safe space” for child to go to as needed


 * Middle School Youth **

Expect mood swings; Provide supportive environment where students can share, when needed; Anticipate physical concerns, illness, body aches and pains; Allow to choose with whom and how he/she gets support; Encourage participation in school-based educational support group; Allow flexibility in completing school __work__


 * More information can be found by clicking on the link*

//-- Jessica Castronovo //

 As we all have discussed, there are many tough topics to teach within a classroom, especially when the issues is present in the school or the room itself. Teaching students about disabilities is hard enough when there are no special needs children in the classroom, but when you have a student that is different from the rest, it is imperative to address the situation early, as to avoid bullying, teasing, or uncomfortable questions to or about the individual. Teaching about autism can be a very difficult task, especially when students have never heard about it or do not know anything about the disability. Students with autism are likely to be in mainstream classrooms and the issue cannot be ignored. This article and video, from ABC News, describes the quest of Motesem Moe Mansur, an autistic individual, which has written many books, describing what it is like to grow up with autism. He reaches out to classrooms and teachers to give an insight about how to teach those who do not understand the enormity of the disability. He has written the book, //Teddy Turbine: A Quarterback with Autism//, to explain to students what it was like for him, and how that may be happening in their own classroom or school, without them even knowing it. Many times, autism is not talked about, but it needs to be! Take a few minutes to watch this video and peruse the article to get a better perspective of how Moe describes autism, and how this can translate into our own classrooms someday.
 * ~ Kristina Traynor **

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I think at any grade level one of the toughest topics to ever hit the classroom is death. Whether it is something such as the death of a pet hamster or something even larger like the loss of a best friend, it is unavoidable that, as teachers, we are going to have to face the loss of a loved one with our students at some point. With any age group, this topic can be stressful, overwhelming, and emotional; however, it is also a topic that can be a source of powerful learning in the classroom. In the book, __Death in the Classroom: Writing about Love and Loss__ by Jeffrey Berman, the subject of how to address such a sensitive issue with students is explored. After his wife passed away, Berman wrote this book as a means of exploring how students can deal with death in the classroom. He discusses how students can use the pain, memories, and grief to write moving pieces of writing, and channel the distress they are feeling into a creative outlet. The book focuses on using literacy as a means of healing during the loss of a loved one. The fact of the matter is that when students lose someone they love that cannot just be shut off for the 6 hours they are in school. Conversely, it is during those 6 hours when the issue is probably most pressing on their mind. Therefore, as teachers, instead of pretending an issue is not there, we should teach our students how to use the issue as a drive to succeed. As explored in this book, writing can be an extremely healing way to address death in the classroom because it is something all students can relate to in some fashion, whether it be in a high magnitude or on a smaller scale. I know personally, writing after the loss of a loved one became a great source of strength for me, so I think the ideas expressed in this book could really be a beneficial way to approach such a tough topic in the classroom. Sometimes it is taking those impossible situations and making them teachable moments that encourage students to use every opportunity to learn and grow as students and as people. **--Jami Centrella**

__Book Information: __ Berman, Jeffrey. //Death in the Classroom: Writing about Love and Loss//. Albany: State University of New York, 2009.

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====One of the most difficult issues to address in a classroom, especially with the growing interest in the military, is when a students father, mother, sibling or friend is deployed. Personally, my goal in the next 10 years is to become an American teacher overseas for the U.S. Military. I do not know about you, but I have dealt with deployment first hand. It was difficult for me as a 17 year old, so I can only imagine what it is like for a 4th or 5th grader. Military.com is an excellent resource for teachers, parents, and even students. When dealing with a deployment in a military family it is important to ====

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">Take a moment to look at the link and think about how you would handle this with a student.
<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">[|Military] <span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 110%;">~Kristina Traynor l

media type="youtube" key="TdkNn3Ei-Lg" height="315" width="420" This is a video of a young boy who uses social media to express his frustration with bullying. So many people have responded positively to his outcry, and have begun to follow his example by expressing their feelings about the subject in a similar way. //<span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 14px;">-- Jessica Castronovo //

media type="youtube" key="W1g9RV9OKhg" height="315" width="560" <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Bright','serif'; font-size: 16px;">“13 Million Kids will be bullied in the U.S. this year. 3 million students are absent each month because they feel unsafe at school. Let’s create schools where everyone feels welcome.” These are the opening lines to “Bully”, a documentary premiering April 13 about the tragic effects of bullying in the U.S. This documentary was first seen at the Sundance film festival, by Lee Hirsch and then went on to win Emmy Awards and partner with non profits to start the Bullying Project. This non profit is a part of Creative Visions Foundations and works to provide students, teachers, parents and advocates with the tools and knowledge to eliminate bullying. STOP BULLYING. SPEAK UP! Is the long awaited call to actions U.S. Schools have needed to raise awareness and promote action by program supporters and regional and national partners. The movie profiles students who have been or are victims of the most common form of violence experienced amongst young people in the U.S. today. It deals with racial, ethic, geographic and economic statuses and takes you, the viewer, into the daily lives of those affected by bully to experience their torment, pain, and loss of hope. “Kids will be kids” is no longer a cliché, but now a phase that must be taken into serious consideration. Through bully the movie and the Bully Project, parents, children, teachers, and advocates are able to access valuable resources in identifying and taking the appropriate steps against bullying through informative PDF files and pamphlets, lists of resources and partner groups and by hearing the stories of those affected and change makers. <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Bright','serif'; font-size: 16px;">The film and project are both great initiatives for teachers to get involved in and promote in their classrooms. With the new HIB law in place, this documentary brings to life why the policies were put in place and how the laws can and will change the intimidations and fearful atmosphere some students create in our schools. Bully the movie and the Bully Project come ready with lesson plans, discussion guides as well as information for educators about bullying, with the initiative to end bullying in our schools one informed teacher, classroom, child and parent at a time. I hope that this film makes a huge impact on our nations education systems and more so that teachers use these real life situations to better inform their students of the description this tough topic does to their peers. - Sarah Sell

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The It Gets Better Project is a movement for LGBT community to know that life will always get better and there is always someone to support them. As future teachers, we must consider the upsetting truth that kids younger and younger are being bullied and considering suicide. Suicide is NEVER an option and students need to know that there is always help. The website [|www.itgetsbetter.org] gives tips for getting __help__ and videos of real life people telling you that IT GETS BETTER. This video gives an excellent idea of of how celebrities and those who understand the situation can help change perspective. Students need to understand that it is not the end of the world, although it may seem that way, but life will get better. media type="youtube" key="5RKmnAJ3ZWM" height="315" width="560"

<span style="color: #a314a3; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">~Kristina Traynor

[|The Many Shades of Race Article] “The Many Shades of Race: Why we Don’t Talk About it, Why we Should, and How we Can" Article Review From NJEA Review April 2012 SarahSell

While thinking about my social studies unit of the Slavery Bebate, I questioned how in a meager year or two, how I would be teaching this to actual students. I may have the best lesson plans, objectives, and assessments, but all of that would leave my students with nothing if I do not address first the underlying issue of racism. This controversial topic can cause quite a stir in U.S. Classroom, hence I was happy to find on my return home for Easter a copy of the “NJEA Review” on my desk with the front page article discussing “The Many Shads of Race: Why we don’t talk about it, why we should and how we can” (DelColle, 11). This article written by the current NJ Teacher of the Year, Jeanne DelColle, addresses what she learned at an institute on Race and American History and Culture lead by a Rutgers University professor and sponsored by the NJCH. She states “We do our students a disservice…when we fail to help them understand that race affects everything we learn in school to the images we see in that media, and it’s not just a black and white issue.” Racism must be addressed before the slavery and Civil War unit but how the great is dilemma that teachers face. They fear that student either will not contribute or break out into riots. DelColle suggest teaching about race through different mediums such as economic situations, art, and current events. This keeps students focused on the issue but in an indirect approach. DelColle also emphasizes the important that in order to having these teachings and discussions that a classroom of understanding, empathy, and without threat must be established. “Racism needs to be discussed in a humanistic manner in relation to all subjects, and the students must be involved in a way that makes them feel safe” (DelColle, 12) she says. DelColle suggests establishing the following class rules: 1. Respect, 2. Listen! 3. No judgment, 4. Question, 5. Remember. Another great way to approach racism is to talk with students about stereotypes. If they begin to feel defensive or emotional during these discussions, ask them to think about why they are reacting this way. “Remind them that if they don’t like the basis in society, they should lead by example” (DelColle, 12). In summary, waiting until units when racism is a part of the event, writing, reading, etc., or worse until teachers hear it in their classroom is no longer an option. We must inform our students about the arrogant thinking that is racism to promote good character within our students today for a better tomorrow. https://www.njea.org/news-and-publications/njea-review

When teaching tough topics I think that we need to sit down and analyze what a tough topic really is. Tough topics can be different for children than they are for adults. Home life is different for all children and it really affects their lives. Divorce is something that affects a lot of families and not in a good way. The children typically seem to be the ones who suffer the most when they have parents that are divorcing. As an educator it is important to understand your students and pay attention to how they are acting in class and in their work and if they have made a drastic change. It is important to show that you care about them and that you are there for them as more than just their teacher. I was nervous when we started talking about tough topics and about how I would handle them as a teacher since tough topics typically make people uncomfortable. I found this website that is a great resource for how to deal with divorce. This website was created for parents, educators, and children deal with divorce and how to help the children cope with it.

[] **-Danielle**

Bullying has always been a problem with children. It seems that as the years go on, it is becoming a growing problem to the point where children are doing harm to themselves and others to cope with how they are being bullied. The newest way for kids to bully other kids seems to be cyber bullying. This is where kids post, blog and instant message other students using the internet and harassing them there. This is becoming more popular, I think, because it takes away the face to face issue and kids are bullying from the comfort of their own home on their own computer or cell phone. This is harming the victims because things that happen online seem to stay with you forever and never go away. This video is all about cyber bullying. []
 * -Danielle **

Death and sickness are natural parts of life. As adults we are aware of them and have an idea of how to deal with it when it occurs in your life. Children do not fully understand death and do not fully know how to deal with it. Children tend to be egotistical and assume that other children have the same situations at home as everyone else and that is not always the case. It is good to address issues anonymously to the class so that they understand situations that may or may not be going on in their lives. This website has a fantastic article written by two PHD’s and really addresses how kids think about death and sickness and how they deal with it. It is important that for all tough topics, teachers do not ignore them and instead address them. __ http://www.genconnect.com/relationships/talking-to-children-about-sickness-and-death/ __
 * -Danielle **