đź“š Lesson Plan #09

Election Ready - Helping Students Disagree Respectfully

Good Monday morning Educators!

It’s election week in the U.S. this week and classrooms may be buzzing with questions and opinions. Navigating these discussions can be challenging, so we've found a helpful research-backed strategy from Harvard to make things easier! The key is practicing "conversational receptiveness," which can help keep debates respectful and constructive. Here’s how the HEAR technique can guide your conversations this week:

H for Hedging: Soften statements by using words like “sometimes” or “maybe.” This keeps discussions open-ended and less like ultimatums.

E for Emphasizing Agreement: Find common ground with phrases like, “I also think…” or “We both care about…” to remind students that not everything has to be divisive.

A for Acknowledgment: Show you’re listening by saying something like, “I hear that this is really important to you because…” This helps students feel valued without feeling like they’re just waiting to respond.

R for Reframing to the Positive: Avoid negative words like “can’t” or “won’t” and use positive language instead. For instance, “I’d like to explore more ideas together…”

Wishing you a week full of insightful conversations and positivity! 🌟

▶️ VIDEOS OF THE WEEK

đź“– STORIES OF THE WEEK

HEALTH: Let’s’ Talk About Mud! (Grades 1 to 5)

Here’s a fun secret: playing in the mud is actually great for your health! Here’s why tiny, invisible “helpers” can give your immune system a boost when you get a little messy.

CULTURE: Why Is This Painting So Famous? (Grades 6-8)

Why do some artworks fade while others become icons? Discover how the fifth-place entry in a 1930 art exhibition, American Gothic, outshined the winner to become a cultural legend.

ENVIRONMENT: Why Do Leaves Change and What Do the Colors Mean? (Grades 9 to 12)

Before pumpkin spice lattes and Halloween, autumn was all about the trees. Discover the hidden science and vibrant signals trees send us as they prepare for winter.

The Goodable app is your home to the world’s happiest stories and exclusive audio sessions from top experts. And the best part? Try it free for 7 days, cancel anytime! Our clinical trials show we can improve your overall mood and well-being by as much as 96% in less than five minutes a day. Remove the negativity around you and replace it with hope and inspiration on Goodable, where we deliver daily joy directly to your fingertips.