New Blog Post: Help Students Value All Voices in Class Discussions

Take a deep dive into the goals of the Cooperation state, and learn some strategies to help you support your class build Essential Skills. This article is part of a series of posts taking a closer look at the Four Stages of group development in Touchstones.

Read it here!

Our Latest OEW!

We recently hosted our first in-person Open Enrollment Workshop since the pandemic! We were so glad to have you in person with us for this wonderful experience.

Hear what participants had to say:

"This workshop helped me see that collaboration is a skill that needs to be cultivated."

"This workshop definitely helped me think more deeply about issues associated with collaborative discussion! I loved the assessment at the end and the focus on the purpose of Touchstones as we went through each step."

Check out our upcoming workshops!

Opportunities for Schools & Educators

Save the Date: Touchstones Educator Summit July 18-20

We're thrilled to announce that we'll be hosting our first ever Educator Summit - Building Trust, Equity, and Belonging: The Power of Discussion - in person July 18-20 in Winter Harbor, Maine!

We'll spend 3 days exploring how you can leverage the power of discussion to build inclusive classroom and school community characterized by shared leadership. Presenters include academic researchers as well as veteran Touchstones teachers who will share their experiences on topics such what it takes to build trust in a group, engaging families authentically, and assessing essential discussion skills using portfolios. We've kept the cohort intentionally small to ensure everyone can connect meaningfully with each other, so space is limited.

Thanks to the support of generous partners, we're able to offer a very affordable rate, inclusive of all meals and accommodations! Register now! Early bird pricing ends April 15.

Learn More

Spring into Collaborative Learning!

Check out these exclusive offers:

Happy Spring! For this month only, teachers get 25% off of all elementary and middle school volumes with promo code SPRING23.

We're excited to schedule an in-service workshop with you! Register for yours today and receive a 15% discount with promo code SPRINGPD.

Browse our bookstore

Community Programs News & Opportunities

Next Online Community Discussions!

Everyone is welcome to join for this free, drop-in program. Whether you’re just getting familiar with Touchstones or you’re a seasoned discussion leader, Online Community Discussions offer a way to practice discussion skills together and build community.

Our next community discussion will be held on March 25, from 11am-12pm.

Share Your Touchstones Story

The Touchstones community spans the globe! Help us spread the word about the amazing work happening in your classroom or community group by sharing your story on social media. Use the hashtag #BeyondTheSocraticSeminar in your posts or complete this form to be featured in an upcoming #TouchstonesSpotlight on our channels.