Participants in the 2007 American Sociological Association teaching workshop, “Innovative Teaching Practices for Difficult Subjects,” shared concerns about teaching statistics, research methods, and theory. Strategies for addressing these concerns center on building a community of learners by creating three processes throughout the course: 1) an ongoing active role for students; 2) mechanisms to establish a common language of discourse; and 3) a means of monitoring students' feelings. Examples are provided which introduce readers to ideas which can help in the creation and maintenance of a successful community of learners when teaching these difficult subjects. These processes can build student engagement and help to reduce student anxieties. More detailed information about specific exercises, examples, and bibliographic resources which were distributed at the workshop, can be found on the Teaching Sociology website.

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has offered a certification program in teaching sociology for graduate students since 1976. This program promotes and recognizes the importance of university teaching and provides systematic preparation for such teaching. The program includes four components: teaching assistant workshop, seminar in teaching sociology, sociotogy teaching practicum and oral examination. The strengths and weaknesses ofthe program are evaluated and suggestions for improvement of the program are included.