Navigating Difficult Moments

How you address difficult moments in the classroom can show that you’re aware of your classroom’s dynamics, committed to teaching your course material, and aim to promote learning even through struggle. Here are some tips for helping you to respond productively.

• Assess and understand the situation. It's important to make sure that your understanding of the situation is as accurate as possible and sensitive to the different perspectives present in the room. There are likely many different, complicated responses playing out in the room. Is the conversation focused on course material or moving away from it? How are others reacting to what is happening? Are some students not speaking? Have students shifted from critiquing ideas to criticizing people?
• Respond. You can offer everyone some time to think, write, or do a course activity that aims to refocus discussion on the course materials and learning goals (e.g. individual writing or reading, or a small group discussion). Remind students of classroom norms and agreements, and emphasize the importance of respect for all students, and critiquing ideas rather than individuals.
• Plan your long-term response. Your short-term response to a difficult moment need not be your only response. Did this discussion serve your learning goals or distract from them? Do you think the moment requires follow-up action so that future classes aren’t negatively affected? Would it be helpful to check in with the class or certain individuals either via email or during the next class meeting? How might you revise future lesson plans to help students manage future difficult conversations in a more open, respectful, and generous way (e.g. by setting classroom norms or by requiring students to engage more closely with course material in classroom discussions)?