Classroom Conversations  

Classroom Conversations brings together members of a school community to join in
a facilitated discussion of a short reading.       The teacher or facilitator introduces thought-provoking questions and encourages students to reflect on issues raised by the reading and discuss how they impact our lives and communities.

For Martin Luther King Day, the New York Council for the Humanities has developed an easy to use online tool kit containing resources and suggestions on how to lead a meaningful discussion of thoughts and ideas to develop a sense of understanding. These materials relate to New York State Learning Standards: Language Arts 1.1, 2.1 and Social Studies 1.1, 1.2, 5.1, 5.3.

For students, Classroom Conversations serves as a unique opportunity to interact with others and explore possibilities through various perspectives and interpretations. For teachers, a conversation enriches classroom curriculum by providing materials not typically taught in text books. Students and teachers are given the opportunity to share thoughts and questions through community interaction to shape individual insight and critical thinking.

"I hosted a conversation with my group consisting of eighth through twelfth grade. We read the excerpt from The Drum Major Instinct and discussed the meaning of the speech. I found the conversation to be very informative and students had an opportunity to share their ideas and experiences with each other. I think they learned more about MLK, themselves, and each other."
- Brenda Smith, Verne W. Critz Elementary

	Check out our Community Conversations toolkit for community groups!
	Check out our Community Conversations for Families toolkit for libraries!