Apply Give

Other ways to search: Events Calendar | UTHSC | UTHSC News

Teaching in Tumultuous Times

Written by Tom Laughner

|
Create Inclusive Learning Environments

Take it on the go! Listen to an AI-generated
TLC To Go podcast episode summarizing this resource.

Reviewed:
May 28, 2025

First Published:
March 18, 2022

 

When local, community, or global events impact our classrooms, it can be challenging to maintain focus on teaching and learning. Teaching may feel mundane or even irrelevant in the face of tragedy, violence, or disaster. Faculty and students alike may be personally affected, especially when their identities or communities are targeted or harmed. Faculty should recognize their own limitations in assisting students and encourage them to reach out to trained professionals for mental health and resource-based support. At the same time, faculty can foster a sense of safety and belonging by acknowledging tumultuous events, extending flexibility, and providing access to resources.

  
Use the comments section below to let us know your ideas about teaching in tumultous times.

  • Research reveals that even a brief recognition of violence or disaster from faculty positively impacts student learning and sense of well-being.  

  • Faculty should remain mindful of their own mental and emotional state in tumultuous times, particularly the impact events have on their own communities and identities. Finding a support group or being open with students about difficulties can alleviate stress in teaching during tumultuous times. 

    • Martinez-Cola, M., English, R., Min, J., Peraza, J., Tambah, J., & Yebuah, C. (2018). When pedagogy is painful: Teaching in tumultuous times. Teaching Sociology, 46(2), 97–111. https://doi.org/10.1177/0092055X17754120  

  1. Acknowledge tumultuous events. Recognizing natural disaster, tragedy, or violence, even in a brief statement of acknowledgement, can help students learn and increase their sense of well-being.  

  2. Prepare before you facilitate discussions on the topic. If you decide to talk to your students about tumultuous events, prepare in advance so that you are ready to include all your students, provide moments for written reflection and offer students a chance to sit quietly as needed. You can use strategies like ‘rounds’ in which each student is given time to respond to or pass on a prompt without interruption or judgement. Alternately, you can give writing prompts and ask students to write about their emotions and thoughts.  

  3. Present a balanced perspective when discussing difficult topics. When addressing tragedy or hardship, avoid focusing solely on loss or suffering. Instead, include examples of strength, perseverance, and positive outcomes that individuals or communities have demonstrated in response to challenges.

  4. Offer your students campus and community resources, such as hotlines, food banks, and counseling centers to utilize if they are struggling with mental health, food or housing insecurity or other pressing needs.

  5. Elections can bring strong emotions and add stress for many students. Instructors can support learning and maintain a respectful classroom environment by:

    1. (Before the election) Acknowledging the emotional weight of the season and adjusting course plans if needed. Offering guidance on handling political conversations in clinical settings.

    2. (During the election) Setting clear expectations for discussions and using structured strategies like the Open the Front Door technique (Observe, Think, Feel, Desire) to manage tense moments.

    3. (After the election) Directing students to mental health and support resources and encouraging reflection and community care.