The Art of Classroom Conversation

In this current moment, there are perhaps few things more valuable for students than the ability to confidently and skillfully navigate conversations. So how do we make those conversations a reality in our classrooms?

Today’s guest has some ideas. Not only is Joe Ferraro in his third decade of teaching, but he also has hosted three-hundred conversations on his podcast One Percent Better and now consults others on communication skills with his company Damn Good Conversations. In this episode, Joe shares how this value and priority of conversation shows up in his classroom while “talking shop” with Marcus heading into another school year.

To follow more of Joe’s work, check these resources out:

• His website: https://www.damngoodconversations.com

• Two podcast episodes referenced in this episode (all available here!)

  • His interview with Mitch Albom

  • His podcast episode “Reverse Mentor”

Thanks, as always, to:

Alberto Lugo, one of Jim’s former students, for writing and recording original intro music; Tom Csatari for allowing us to use his band’s recording of “Woodstock” from their 2020 album, Garden; and Courtney Milavec for graphic design.

Find Tom’s work at uncivilizedtom.com, and on Instagram @banduncivilized.

Find Alberto’s work at djsynchro.weebly.com, and on Instagram @djsynchro.

Email us here with feedback or any other questions as well: thebrokencopier@substack.com.

Thanks for listening (and tell your friends)!