Try, Reflect, Try Again

A structure to practice communicating thoughtfully in disagreement.

TRY to reach consensus or solve a problem as a group
REFLECT on your group experience and communication
TRY AGAIN to communicate effectively with your group

Purpose: This repeatable structure/activity is designed to surface differing opinions while people work together and then to support reflection and new ways of interacting. The group consensus task engages and surfaces opinions. The reflection step supports noticing thoughts, emotions, assumptions, and communication patterns and then invites people to try again to listen to oneself and others.

When to use: To engage people in analyzing and discussing an artifact (a text, school policy, data, etc.) where there is a possibility disagreement about the interpretation or implications. Highly adaptable to different subject areas.

Published: March 2024

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AT A GLANCE

LEARNING

ROUTINE

SUBJECTS

Advisory / SEL

Language Arts

Social Studies

STEM

LEVEL

5th grade - Adults

SKILLS

Communication skills (metacognition, emotional awareness, group behavior),
Self-awareness
Text/media/data analysis (depending on the prompt you choose)

How to use

What students do:

Try to reach a consensus or solve a problem as a group
- Take a few minutes to individually come up with their answers.
- In small groups try to come to agreement. (We recommend beginning with groups of four.)
- Option: Provide a field notes printout for students to track responses.
Reflect (Template slide deck includes all reflection questions)
- How did you feel in the conversation and when you saw the controversial prompt?
- What thoughts did you have? Do you believe they’re true in retrospect?
- How did you communicate when you when you were believing those thoughts and having those feelings?
- What’s a way you’d like to try responding when you disagree?
Try again! Return to small groups. Continue with the previous prompt, or a new one, and then reflect.

Preparing

Prepare a controversial or highly engaging prompt that you feel is safe and relevant to discuss in your context. Choose from provided prompts, use one of the prompt templates, or prepare your own.

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Sample Engaging Prompts

(Google Slides Access - Make a copy to edit)

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Discussion Prompt Templates

(Google Slides Access - Make a copy to edit)

2. Add whatever discussion prompts you plan to use to the template student facing slides.

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3. (OPTIONAL) Print field notes pages for students to track their responses and reflections.

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Pairs well with...

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Introduction to Communication Styles

This 10-minute mini-lesson uses comics to develop awareness of common communication styles. There is an extension option that include analyzing video situations.