Sep 15, 2026
How can we help students have meaningful conversations across differences—not by avoiding disagreement, but by learning how to engage in it well?
In this episode of the Time for Teachership podcast, Lindsay Lyons talks with Joe Schmidt and Nichelle Pinkney, co-authors of Civil Discourse: Classroom Conversations for Stronger Communities, about what it actually takes to create classrooms where students can listen, question, disagree, learn from one another, and participate in productive dialogue.
Joe and Nichelle offer a powerful reframe: civil discourse isn't about winning an argument or getting everyone to agree. It's about sharing information, seeking understanding, and being willing to learn something from the conversation.
The conversation moves beyond the idea that teachers simply need to give students “discussion protocols” or sentence starters. Instead, Joe and Nichelle unpack the deeper instructional design work behind strong classroom discourse—including how to prepare students, frame questions, build the skills gradually, and create structures that make meaningful conversation possible.
In This Episode, We Explore:
- What civil discourse actually means in a classroom
- Why discourse is about information sharing rather than winning
- The difference between disagreement and conflict
- Why students don't need to agree with one another to have a productive conversation
- How our experiences, identities, and backgrounds influence the way we understand the world
- Why listening and understanding are essential components of civil discourse
- How to prepare students for challenging or controversial conversations
- Why teachers shouldn't begin the year with the most emotionally charged topics
- How to build students' “muscle memory” for discussion protocols
- Using low-stakes and even silly topics to practice discourse skills before tackling controversial issues
- How to use discussion protocols such as Philosophical Chairs, Circle, and Socratic Seminar
- Why the way you frame a discussion question can dramatically influence the quality of the conversation
- How narrowing a question can reduce the emotional temperature of a discussion
- The difference between a broad compelling question and a focused discussion question
- Why students sometimes argue past one another because they aren't actually disagreeing about the same thing
- How defining the specific issue underneath a disagreement can make productive dialogue possible
- How strong questions help students move beyond simply answering a prompt toward actually conversing with one another
- Ways to scaffold students' preparation for discourse
- How civil discourse connects to student voice and student-led discussion
- The role of discourse in building stronger classroom and school communities
Grab the free resource connected to this episode at:
Connect With the Guests
Joe shares that listeners can connect with him through joeschmidtsocialstudies.com and find his book The Social Studies Field Guide at socialstudiesfieldguide.com.
Nichelle is active on social media as @MissNikki_P and serves as president of the Texas Social Studies Leader Association.