With the rise of hybrid work and remote work, there’s less of a clear distinction between an employee’s work life and their personal life. This has created a need for organizations to communicate more about current events that may impact employees on either front.
As with any communication topic, there is a fine line between discussing current events and creating an uncomfortable workplace. Employees should be allowed to discuss current events, but it’s important that they do so in a respectful manner and that their conversations are productive. This may require a separate, documented company policy about political speech and activity in the workplace.
There are many resources available for teachers to use when teaching students about current events. Facing History and Ourselves, for example, has compiled a series of articles related to the COVID-19 pandemic that educators can use in their classrooms. They also have collections on other topics, including democracy and civic engagement, violence and injustice, and more.
While some current events stories are difficult to talk about, it’s essential that students remain informed and aware of world news. By examining these events, educators can help students learn how to use reliable sources, keep up with world events, and think critically about what they read and see in the news.
This resource from The Learning Network offers 50 ways for educators to incorporate current events into their curriculum. Educators can find ideas like using podcasts, reading picture books, analyzing data, gamifying current events, and more to make these lessons engaging for their students.