• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Literary Fusions

Literary Fusions

Integrating literacy in K-12 classrooms.

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Training
    • Workshops
    • Presentations
    • Free Virtual PD
  • Blog
    • Integration Ideas by Category
    • Book Reviews
    • Poetry
    • Reading Strategies
    • Social Studies
    • Using Technology
    • Writers’ Workshop
  • Shop
  • Contact Us

Website Review: ProCon.org

October 10, 2017 By Jessica

Anyone who knows me (Jessica) knows my passion for classroom discussion.  When students have time to have critical conversations in the classroom, they are raising their abilities in the areas of both reading comprehension and written composition. Those two reasons alone are awesome reasons to incorporate more conversation, but conversation does so much more than just that!  Through conversation, students become aware of multiple perspectives, they learn how to be open-minded critical thinkers! How great would it be if we had a society of FULL of people who were able to engage in deep discussion, have a difference of opinion, and be able to understand another person’s viewpoint??

I understand that conducting these conversations in the classroom can be overwhelming and a bit scary.  I recently read an article by Glenn Wiebe on this matter and he reminded me of one of my favorite sites, ProCon.org.  I have used this site in the past for helping students write persuasive papers and it was always a hit with the students because, let’s face it, if you are currently teaching middle grades and up, you already know that students love to voice their opinions!

ProCon.org lists tons of controversial issues, including some you might consider beyond the scope of the classroom. Direct the students to the ones you want them to focus on.  The categories on the site are: most popular, health & medicine, education, politics, science & technology, elections & presidents, world/international, sex & gender, entertainment & sports, and economy & taxes.  The last two are “You may also like …” and “From our headlines…”

ProCon

Once you select your issue, the page will provide a small amount of (typically impartial) background information for the student. Then, below, it outlines both the Pro and Con sides of the argument, listing discussion points for each side. (From what I’ve seen, the number of Pro points are typically equal to the number of Con points.)  This is a perfect way to get students to notice that these issues are not simple, that there is not an easy solution, or it would have been fixed already.  There are almost always multiple perspectives and it is important to listen and hear everything before deciding where you fall on the issue.

I teach my students to always listen to others’ point of view. Then, if you don’t agree, think about if you have a fact that can support your feelings.  If you do, share that fact and begin a healthy discussion.  I also tell them that sometimes emotion plays a big role in our personal stance.  I think this is okay as well.  However, I want my students to know when they feel a certain way because of facts or they feel a certain way emotionally.  And then I tell them to own it.  It’s okay to say, “I understand what you’re saying, I just can’t stop feeling ___.”  Regardless, it is important that they never stop listening.

After looking through the new Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills , I’m so excited that there is more focus on oral discussion!  We might not be responsible for those standards yet, but we can get started now!  Check out ProCon.org and get your students discussing poignant topics!

infographicTech Integration:

Create a Topic vs. Topic Infographic to have students examine both sides of their own issue, or add to the conversation about an issue they’ve researched on ProCon.org. This template is created in Google Drawing so you can incorporate some of the Tech Apps TEKS too!

 

If you would like to have us come to your campus to share social studies tools and ideas, check out our Workshops page and contact us!

Copyright Statement

Content © 2025 Jessica Rogers and Sherry McElhannon of Literary Fusions and literaryfusions.com. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s authors and owners is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Literary Fusions and literaryfusions.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Connect with LitFuse

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Free Virtual PD!

Lit Fuse Online

Make Connections

App Review Asking Questions Biography Book Review Characterization Collaboration Communication Conventions Conventions Creativity Critical Thinking Descriptive Writing Details and Description Diversity Expository Figurative Language Ideas - details Imaginative Inferencing List of Favorites Lone Star Reading List Main Idea Making Connections Media Literacy Nonfiction Text Organization - Leads Personal Narrative Poetry Point of View Predicting Quotations Reading Strategies Research Retelling/ Summarizing Schema Science Social Studies Technology Theme Visualization Vocabulary Word Choice Writers' Notebook Writing Writing Traits
Lit Fuse Store

Footer

literary_fusions

Empower Your Classroom with the Power of Invention Empower Your Classroom with the Power of Inventions!
Hey, educators! 🌟 Ready to spark creativity and inspire the next generation of innovators? Check out these 5 fantastic books that dive into the world of inventions. Perfect for your classroom, these stories will captivate your students' imaginations and encourage them to think like inventors. From perseverance and creativity to the fascinating history of accidental discoveries, these books have it all. Which one will you introduce first? Let us know in the comments and tag a fellow teacher who loves bringing new ideas to life! 🚀📚
** See the WHOLE post on our blog **
#LiteracyAndTechnology #ClassroomInnovation #YoungInventors #TeachingIdeas #BookRecommendations #InspireLearning #ClassroomCommunity #EducatorLife #LearningIsFun #CreativeClassroom
The grocery store can wait! We may not have milk o The grocery store can wait! We may not have milk or eggs, but we have library books! 
#priorities #librarykids #library #teachers #teacherlife
✨ Celebrating Individuality in the Classroom! ✨ Discover four fantastic books that inspire students to embrace their uniqueness and appreciate the diversity around them. 📚❤️ (more on our blog) #LiteraryFusions #Individuality #ClassroomInspiration #BookRecommendations #teach #teachers #teachersfollowteachers #readingteacher #reading #picturebook #textsets #readingcomprehension #scienceofreading
🌉 Building Bridges: Creating a Text Set on Frie 🌉 Building Bridges: Creating a Text Set on Friendship for Your Classroom 🌉

Friendship is a cornerstone of human experience, shaping our interactions and emotional well-being. Our latest blog post explores how you can create a text set on friendship to foster kindness, empathy, and cooperation in your classroom. 📚✨

Swipe through to discover a collection of thoughtfully selected books that delve into the themes of friendship. Each slide highlights a book and provides insights on how it can enrich your students' understanding of what it means to be a good friend. 🤝💖

Featured Books:
1. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
2. The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes 
3. Enemy Pie by Derek Munson
4. Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson 
5. My Two Blankets by Irena Kobald
6. The Invisible Boy by Trudy Ludwig
7. I Am Stuck by Julia Mills
8. Friends Beyond Measure by Lalena Fisher

Let’s empower our students to build bridges of friendship and create a supportive classroom community. Check out the full blog post for more ideas and activities! 🌟📖 #FriendshipInClass #LiteracyAndTechnology #EmpowerEducators #ClassroomCommunity #TeachingIdeas #textset #textsets #teacher #teaching #reading #picturebook
Meet Your New Classroom Assistant! 🧙‍♂️✨

Hey, wonderful teachers! Need a little magic to tackle those big projects or tricky communications? Say hello to Goblin Tools (https://goblin.tools/) – your new best friend in the classroom! 🧙‍♀️🛠️

Here’s how it can help:

Magic To Do 📝✨
- Break down those daunting assignments into manageable steps. Perfect for guiding students through big projects!

Formalizer 🖋️🔄
- Ever wanted to send a brutally honest note to a parent? Write it out here and transform it into a professional, formal, or less emotional tone. Communication made easy!

The Judge 🧑‍⚖️📜
- Not sure if your email is a bit too snarky? Find out the tone of your writing before hitting send. Keep your messages clear and respectful!

The Chef 🍳🔮
- Playing "Chopped" with your pantry? Plug in the ingredients you have, and get recipe suggestions. Perfect for creative classroom cooking activities or just dinner at home!

Make your teaching life a bit easier and a lot more fun with Goblin Tools!

💬 Question of the Day: How would you use Goblin Tools in your classroom? Share your ideas below – let's learn from each other! 🧠👇

#TeacherTech #ClassroomMagic #EdTech #GoblinTools #TeacherHacks
🌟 Hey, amazing educators! 🌟 Ready to kick of 🌟 Hey, amazing educators! 🌟 Ready to kick off the school year with an engaging unit on rules and laws? 📚✨
We’ve picked some fantastic books to help your students understand why rules matter and how they shape our world. Check out these gems:
1️⃣ What If Everybody Did That? - Discover the hilarious and important reasons why rules matter. 
2️⃣ Seven Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break If You Want to Survive the Cafeteria - Navigate the cafeteria with essential do's and don'ts. 
3️⃣ A Bike Like Sergio's - Explore honesty and making the right choices. 
4️⃣ Chairs on Strike - Learn about respecting classroom rules in a fun way. 
5️⃣ Do Unto Otters: A Book About Manners - Embrace the Golden Rule with our otter friends.
🌟 Want more hands-on activities, vocabulary tips, and detailed descriptions of these books? Head over to our blog post for the full text set and loads of interactive teaching ideas! 🌟 [Link in bio]
💬 We’d love to hear your thoughts! Drop a comment below with your favorite book or share your own ideas on teaching rules and laws. Don’t forget to like and share this post with your fellow educators! Let’s make learning fun and meaningful together! 💖📖
#LiteracyAndLearning #RulesAndLaws #ElementaryEducation #BookRecommendations #ClassroomTips #EngagingLearning #StudentSuccess #TeacherResources
📚 Exciting Book Review Alert! 📚 Hey there, 📚 Exciting Book Review Alert! 📚

Hey there, book lovers and educators! 👋 We're thrilled to share a captivating book review that has us buzzing with inspiration. 🤩📖

📖 Book: "The Girl in the Red Skirt" by Lucy Cooley
📝 Review: [Link in Bio]
🌟 Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

In our pursuit of enhancing literacy and technology best practices in classrooms, we're always on the lookout for stories that ignite a love for reading and learning. "The Girl in the Red Skirt" is a must-read that masterfully combines the art of storytelling with an enchanting narrative.

📚 Review Highlights:
🔥 Gripping narrative that keeps you turning pages
🧠 Thought-provoking themes perfect for classroom discussions
💡 High level vocabulary
🙌 Empowering young minds through literacy

Swipe to catch a glimpse of the review or click the link in our bio to dive deeper into this literary gem. 📲💫

Educators, if you're looking for engaging material to inspire your students, this book is a fantastic addition to your reading list. 📚🍎

Let's transform the future of education together! 💡 If you're interested in our education consultancy services, feel free to reach out. We're here to help schools create enriching learning environments. 🏫👩‍🏫👨‍🏫

#LiteracyMatters #TechnologyInEducation #BookReview #EducationConsultants #ClassroomInnovation #TheGirlInTheRedSkirt #InspireLearning #ReadAndGrow #EducationForTheFuture
📚🎓 Igniting Learning Through Picture Books 🎓📚

Hey there, educators and fellow book lovers! 👋✨ As literacy consultants and professional development specialists, we're on a mission to empower schools and teachers to create vibrant learning experiences in literacy. 🏫📖

🌟 This week, we have something special to share with you all. Take a look at this enchanting picture book authored AND illustrated by Jessica's talented niece. 📖💫

👧🎨 "The Girl in the Red Skirt" is not just a delightful story; it's a unique look into big emotions and feelings that will spark huge conversations in your classroom. 💚🗣

👩‍🏫📚 I'm thrilled to announce that we'll be sharing innovative teaching ideas and resources to accompany this book on our website soon. 🚀 Stay tuned for creative lesson ideas, discussion prompts, and activities to engage young minds and nurture their love for reading. 📚✨

🍎 Educators, if you're seeking professional development that rejuvenates your teaching methods, embraces storytelling, and harnesses the magic of picture books, let's connect! Together, we can create meaningful, transformative learning experiences. 🌟👩‍🏫

Stay tuned for updates and visit our website www.LiteraryFusions.com to discover how we can collaborate and inspire the next generation of readers and writers. 🌟📚

#LiteracyConsultant #ProfessionalDevelopment #PictureBooks #EducationInnovation #TeachingIdeas #YoungAuthors
Super excited for this new blog post! It should be Super excited for this new blog post! It should be up later this week! For now, we can promise that you want this new book! #picturebookreadaloud #picturebook #readaloud #elementaryteacher
The Crayon Man was an engaging read for our grade The Crayon Man was an engaging read for our grade 3-5 students. On our blog post (linked in bio) we offer free ideas for:
🖍 Art, Language, and Science: Color Naming, Mixing
🧑🔬STEM: Design Process
➕ Math: Measuring, Reading: Following Directions
📖 The Research Process
🔗 Compare and Contrast
Share your ideas below 👇

#education #picturebook #biography #teacher #literacy #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #teachers
Super fun new picture book! On our blog (check the Super fun new picture book! On our blog (check the link in the bio) we offer free teaching ideas:
🤔 Making Inferences
🔬 STEM - Design Process
📖 Vocabulary, Morphemes, Spelling

Tell us what you think!

#teach #teachers #teaching #literacy #picturebook #picturebooks #readingteacher #stem #science #vocabulary #spelling #mentortext #inference #teachingideas
At his presentation, @joshfunkbooks told all the k At his presentation, @joshfunkbooks told all the kids to go home and take a picture with their favorite books so, when they were famous authors someday, they could show it in a presentation. So we did!

What’s your favorite book??
Follow on Instagram

Get integration ideas in your inbox!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

The Latest Posts…

Book Review: The Library Fish by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Text Set: The Power of Inventions

Text Set: Celebrating Individuality in the Classroom

Copyright © 2025 Literary Fusions · Log in

  • Contact Us
  • About Us
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok