This course prepares teachers of all disciplines and grade-levels to address controversial issues in their classroom. Educators will learn research-based strategies for how to have conversations about tough topics, and how to teach these topics to create well rounded students. Teachers of students of all ages will gain methods for implementing conversations about tough topics into their classes. This course will challenge teachers to step out of their comfort zone so that they can best prepare themselves to serve all of their students in helping them develop the critical thinking skills needed to become an educated citizen. This course is for every educator from K-12 and beyond!

At the completion of this course, the learner will be able to:

• Understand what controversial topics should be discussed with your students.
• Apply best practices in implementing the discussion of difficult topics into your classroom.
• Identify which difficult topics should be discussed with students in your particular courses and with the age group of students that you teach.
• Research strategies that can be used to best teach your students to critically think and engage about topics they may have previously had some discomfort with.
• Reflect on how teaching controversial topics and having tough conversations with students can serve your students as they grow to become young citizens.