Culture, Language, and Purposeful Discomfort in American Classrooms

Examine linguistic features that participants in schools throughout America use to negotiate classroom culture. Focus on verbal and nonverbal communication through lens of historical and current primary sources that give voice to a range of American experiences. Consider how teachers' and students' willingness to listen, reflect, and be curious can foster discourses that thoughtfully address potentially uncomfortable topics. Explore objectivity, subjectivity, authority, and agency. Engage middle schoolers in examining research-based evidence on how our smartphone and social media use shapes discursive interactions; and affects emotions, information processing, and constructive communication.