Whether and How to Talk to Students About the Election
Last week with the Art of Motivating Students Summit behind us, I took a deep breath, glanced at my calendar, and two things hit me square in the face.
First, I realized that the major U.S. election was happening next week (which is THIS WEEK by the time you’re reading this)! Of course, I knew it was around the corner. But it’s weird how I didn’t realize it was so soon.
Second, I realized that the day after the election, I’ll be hosting the Anti-Boring Learning Lab’s “All About Biz” call—the very first one since 40 new members joined us. It’ll be the first chance many of us have to process the election results together, whatever they may be.
This got me thinking – how do I hold space for our academic coaching and tutoring community at this tender time? Perhaps even more importantly, how do we support students in the days following the election? Politics may or may not come up in these one-on-one sessions, but the tension is real.
Many of us, while deeply caring for our students, may want to steer clear of politicizing our conversations. Others may want to lean in.
What’s the “right way?” As educators who are largely in private practice, is it best to make no mention of the election when we meet with our students? Conversely, might bringing up the topic and/or naming our own views help students feel seen and supported?
The Community Call That Got Me Thinking
I was working through these questions last Thursday when I joined the Learning Lab’s weekly “Credentialed Coaches Hangout.” This is a super casual, unfacilitated 45-minute unfacilitated call where we gather around an online “water cooler.” It’s a space to catch up, share stories, ask for advice, and check in on each other.
Weirdly, there was an uncharacteristic hush in the air, a stillness, as if everyone wanted to connect but wasn’t quite sure what to say. We were all feeling the weight of the week ahead, the uncertainty of the election outcome, and how we might best support our students through it.
At some point, I broke one of the silences by asking, How are you planning to talk to your students next week?
One of the coaches got especially animated about this question. She was concerned because she lives in a politically mixed urban area in the southern United States, and was feeling the tension at home and in her community.
She didn’t have any answers about how to talk to students, but she recognized, as I did, that the role of the coach or tutor is different than that of the classroom teacher, and we should plan ahead about what we might say.
As the call went on, I saw her busily researching. Every few minutes there was a new article in the chat, which I looked over after our call. In case you’re curious, these were her favorite resources:
This YMCA article outlines 7 practical ways to support students, including listening, promoting democratic values, and encouraging social responsibility.
Dr. Lowenstein's article provides guidance for parents on helping children cope by maintaining normalcy, modeling good behavior, and empowering kids to stay engaged in the political process.
This CHC article offers comprehensive strategies with special attention to creating safe spaces for dialogue, promoting digital literacy, and protecting LGBTQIA+ youth's mental health.
The SSWAA article presents three key tips for supporting children's mental health post-election: listening and validating feelings, teaching tolerance, and modeling appropriate behavior
This Children's Learning Institute's guide emphasizes emotional validation, maintaining routines, fostering respectful dialogue, and creating inclusive environments where all students feel safe regardless of their family's political views.
This coach and I took time to pull the key ideas out of these articles, and we have summarized them below. These are intended to be a beginning discussion, and I hope you’ll contribute your own ideas in the comments section at the end of the post.
Heads up: one of the main pedagogical goals in the Anti-Boring Learning Lab is to help coaches, tutors, and teachers ask increasingly skilled questions that help students become self-directed learners. In the suggestions below for how to your students in the days after the election, we’ve also included some “empowering questions” you could experiment with asking.
Strategies to Keep Us Cool, Curious, and Student-Centered
1. Listen to Students’ Concerns (and Resist the Urge to “Fix” Things)
This one’s golden: give students the space to share how they’re feeling without rushing to answer or “fix” difficult questions. It’s natural for students to bring their anxieties into a coaching session—especially if they feel like you’re a trusted, neutral presence in their lives.
Empowering Questions:
“How are you feeling after the election?
“Is there anything on your mind about what’s going on, or anything you’re finding distracting?”
2. Acknowledge the Uncertainty, Ask Open Questions
Big events bring big emotions, and students often carry the feelings they’ve picked up at home or from friends. Acknowledging this can help clear the path for academic focus. Sometimes students may not even realize how much they’re carrying until someone asks. Asking open-ended questions gives students a safe way to explore and name what they’re experiencing.
Empowering Questions:
“How do you think the election might affect things that matter to you?”
“How are things feeling at school or at home?”
3. Balance Support with Academic Goals
Election-related concerns may arise, and it’s okay to let them pop up. Just remember to gently steer the focus back to the task at hand. If a student is feeling distracted, help them create a game plan for managing stress so that their goals stay in sight. This could mean practicing mindful breaks, tackling assignments in small bites, or (my favorite) limiting news and social media during study time.
Empowering Questions:
“Is there something specific you’d like to accomplish today, even with all the big things happening?”
“Would it feel more helpful to be with your feelings right now, more helpful to focus on your academic goals, or something else?“
“What strategies help you stay focused when you feel distracted?”
4. Model Core Values and Self-Awareness
Students are often looking to us to model how to handle difficult times, and this is a powerful opportunity to show values like respect, caring, honesty, and tolerance. Sometimes, naming your perspective gently can help build trust—especially if you’re careful to acknowledge that everyone’s experience is valid. You could say something like, “I know it’s a tense time, and I’m feeling it too, but I’m here to help you stay focused on what’s important to you.”
Empowering Questions:
“What values are most important to you during times like these?”
“Is there a way you’d like me to support you right now?”
5. Keep Identity and Vulnerability in Mind
Students with marginalized identities may feel heightened stress around election outcomes, so it’s extra important to create a space where all students feel seen and respected. Simply recognizing their unique concerns goes a long way in fostering safety and trust. Consider proactively checking in with students, especially those who may have layered anxieties around the election.
Empowering Questions:
“What’s it been like for you this week? Has anything felt different?”
“Are there things you’re doing to take care of yourself? Or ways you’re finding support? What are they?”
A Call to Action
As we navigate this post-election period, it’s clear that how we approach discussions with our students matters—not only for their emotional health but also for their ability to stay focused and resilient.
While it might not be our role to openly discuss politics, there are moments when acknowledging the impact of the world around us can help students feel validated and grounded.
The question remains: how far should we go in drawing out students’ own feelings about what’s happening? And in bringing our own perspectives to the table?
For those coaches, tutors, and educators working in the quirky corners of education who are feeling the need for community and practical tools to navigate uncertain times (for yourself and your students!), the Anti-Boring Learning Lab is here for you. Consider joining our community, where we dive into these challenges together and come away feeling supported and inspired.
If you’d like a free taste, join me for our upcoming monthly office hours! It’s a chance to hang out, explore rich topics like this one, and connect with other educators facing similar challenges. Our next session is right around the corner—I’d love to see you there!
Also, if you have thoughts to share to add them to the conversation, please feel free to post them below. We’re better when we crowdsource great coaching ideas from each other.