This article provides an overview of preparing for “hot moments”, especially for Fall 2024. This post is the fifth part of the Civil Discourse in Classrooms series and playlist.
It can be stressful to respond to “hot moments” as they occur if you have not reflected and prepared ahead of time. University of Michigan has a wonderful guide for preparing for “hot moments.” Some realms to prepare ahead of time are discussed below.
Create Your Own Action Plan
- Review MSU’s Green Folder for institutional support for cases of concern. When considering this folder, you will need to reflect for yourself:
- What constitutes an emergency in the classroom to me? How might identities and positionality play a role in those emergencies? What are my own needs and boundaries? What are the dangers/risks in contacting MSU PD in those cases? How might this unnecessarily escalate the situation?
- If I think a situation is an emergency, what is my plan for responding and keeping students and me as safe as possible? How can I ensure I have several forms of communication available?
- Are there additional supports around me that I could call upon in my teaching if I needed? Colleagues, chairs, etc.? How would I contact them if I needed to?
- Create a list of your contacts and action plans for when you teach. This may include saving them in your phone, having a print out, etc.
- Reflect and prepare for unexpected current events. This may include acknowledgements of events as well as preparing content warnings (e.g., “Next week’s class will focus on [topic], which may be stressful for some. Please contact me prior to class to discuss modifications if you need.”). In addition, you may want to acknowledge the event for students and connect them with resources (e.g., “It has been a challenging time for some in light of [event]. If you want support as you navigate this, I have put a list of campus resources in D2L”). Additionally, you may want to have a plan for when you want to extend deadlines.
- Identify self-care strategies for when draining topics and moments occur.
- Review de-escalation techniques and have a plan for ways to recenter yourself in tense or stressful moments (e.g., ground exercises, deep breathing, pausing before speaking).
Continue to read more about in the next article, “Classroom Scenarios Sample Responses,” or return to the Civil Discourse in the Classroom playlist.
