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Requires us to really thoughtfully know what we want to say and be non-partisan, even though they are not active participants in the conversation / involved in the process of norming the discussion

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It is impossible to facilitate a truly safe space if we are not aware who is a passive participant / what perspectives they are bringing

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If not guided correctly, students don't feel safe in discussion space. Students could lose trust in you as an educator, if not facilitated in a safe and respectful way.

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It's a challenge because sometimes other's opinions can be damaging to others

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Does not allow space for being "in process" - individual points are taken out of context, and students do not have the benefit of confidentiality (even if we've normed it!)

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Not a casual conversation, instead very personal.
Can feel life or death, especially for students of color, immigrant communities - outcome of election could completely change their life.

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We don't want to harm any of our students or compromise the safe space

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Have a diverse group of students some of which are white trump supporters while the other half is people of color. Some of the discussions have polarizing viewpoints

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Ideological diversity is rooted in lived experience, which makes it difficult to bring in issues that have very personal implications

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Some younger students don't have full understanding on the topic and often just repeat things that they hear from home.

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Because so emotionally charged, discussion can devolve into personal attacks that are harmful to certain students.
Defensiveness/feeling attacked: already where many people are at when entering conversation.

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It's a challenge to provide counter-information that doesn't seem partisanship if you don't have resources to back up the information you're providing.

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Younger student's haven't developed their thoughts and opinions from fact checking, etc. Trying to look at sources as a class so that students can form their own opinions.

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struggle w/ perspectives and accessibility varies significantly among students. Don't want student's only viewpoints to come from staff (giving diverse sources)

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The particularly polarized nature of THIS election disorients us to what used to be traditional values of schools/districts are being questioned and challenged

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Emotionally harmful can become physically violent/harmful.
Additionally: because we are working remotely, it is challenging to check in with students later in the day, have authentic one-on-one check ins.

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Technology issues AND family interference are both outside of our control. The former are easier to exercise empathy and flexibility around.

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The ideas that fact-checking and misinformation are partisan is pervasive in society (because of social media, etc. we are conditioned to associate these ideas with positions on the political spectrum)

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Written / non-verbal methods of discussion are more effective so that confidentiality can be maintained. (i.e. FlipGrid, Parlay, even PADLET! etc.)

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Because many of us are teaching remotely, very hard to authentically check in with students, see faces and see how students are feeling.
Students can feel more detached/not as engaged in conversation as they would be in person.

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More dangerous perspectives in the media. Not all students have the same experiences--some students don't have that point of view or understanding.

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Emotional and psychological well-being and safety during politically turbulent election, given aspects of remote/online learning.
Challenging as teachers to have authentic check-ins with students that ensure safety and social/emotional well-being.
Challenging as teachers to engage in conversations, as well, when teachers are also emotionally charged about the topic as well.

Potential solutions: holding space for different/multiple kinds of student reactions. Create systems of support that students (and teachers) can utilize.

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Sounding partisanship may not be avoided when addressing misinformation immediately, but to mitigate partisanship, it is important to follow up conversations (whether it's after class, the next day, etc.) and "close the loop" with resources to back up your response.

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This election hits HARDER and more PERSONAL than any previous election

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IDENTITY