The Teacher's Sphere

Episode Description: In this episode, Patience LeBlanc, Sarah Lane and Kobi Nelson discuss ways that school leaders can be set up for success by approaching conversations with positive intent and having a goal of listening to learn. We explore how leaders shape school communities that foster civil discourse and viewpoint diversity, and how that work happens when they intentionally show up every da...

Summary: This episode explores the power that comes from teaching economics as a reflection of human action and the ways that this lens can help teachers empower their students to understand that their choices and actions matter. During the conversation, Kobi and Colman also discuss what it takes to have honest, complex conversations about economics and why content knowledge matters just as much a...

In this episode, Kobi Nelson sits down with Lory Warren and Christina LaRose from the Prohuman Foundation to discuss the collaborative lesson series they created about five women from the Revolutionary era whose contributions shaped history but who have largely been left out of the historical record. Together, they explore what it really means to have influence, why students benefit from encounter...

Episode Description:  In this episode, two middle school teachers and two high school teachers talk about what students actually learn when they are given the space to engage in challenging conversations that do not resolve easily. Together, we explore the balance teachers often need to find between freedom and structure, the ways that discomfort can be a powerful learning opportunity, and wh...

In this episode, Sarah Lane speaks to two exceptional school leaders--Julian Braxton and Bruce Stubblefield-- to explore the essential role that relationship building plays in creating spaces where civil discourse can flourish. Hear them talk about why trust and vulnerability must come before complex conversations and how teacher leadership can effectively transform school cultures. Whether you're...

On this episode, we tackle an intriguing paradox: why do we romanticize a past that was often brutal while feeling pessimistic about a present filled with unprecedented human flourishing? Join us in conversation with Chelsea Follett, scholar and author of Centers of Progress and the Grim Old Days Project, and Sean Kinnard, a social studies educator bringing these ideas to life in the classroom. He...

In this episode, three veteran economics educators—Joanne Cho, Michael Arjona, and Dr. Travis Towne—share their strategies for transforming economics education through Sphere's real-world economics materials. With their extensive teaching experience, these educators reveal how they help students see economics everywhere, engage constructively across difference, and develop the critical thinking sk...

How can poetry and art break down barriers to meaningful classroom discussion? How can language arts teachers help their students be more AWARE while engaging in civil discourse? In this episode, Shannon Edwards, a seasoned high school English teacher, shares her transformative approach to using visual art and poetry to help students—particularly multilingual learners—find their voices and engage...

School leaders want to support civil discourse but often lack practical tools to get started. In this episode, Sarah Lane takes us inside the creation of Sphere Education Initiatives' leadership toolkit for civil discourse, sharing insights about moving from concept to classroom implementation while building trust between leaders and teachers. Resources Mentioned Sphere Education Initiatives:&nbsp...