If you came to parent-teacher conferences a few evenings ago, you may have heard me mention the term Socratic Seminar. This type of discussion allows students to make meaning together, to share in the inquiry process. It also puts the "burden" of communicating one's thoughts on the student. In other words, the Seminar process is more student-centered than traditional discussions might be.
So far this year, students in my ELA classroom have completed 3 Socratic Seminars. The first was on an essay excerpt from "On National Education" by Mary Wollstonecraft, an 18th Century writer, philosopher, and activist. During the Seminar, students discussed Wollstonecraft's viewpoint that children learn best when interacting with other children. Our second Seminar took us into the realm of poetry with Phillis Levin's "End of April," a poem about how a sudden discovery reminds the speaker of a loss in his/her life. Our third Seminar was held today over our read aloud The Graduation of Jake Moon, the story of an 8th grade boy who chronicles the decline of his grandfather due to Alzheimer's disease. Our discussion's focus was on possible themes for the book as well as how the story's characters, conflicts, and plot shaped the theme. Students ideas for themes included: sacrifice, loss, family, discovery, teamwork, change, and loyalty.
Socratic Seminars support Common Core Standards in all of the strands of English language arts, including reading, writing, language, and speaking and listening. A key part to a Socratic Seminar is that students learn how to communicate respectfully by being open to their classmates' ideas, encouraging quieter students to participate, and staying on task so that the group gets the most out of the discussion. The quality of each Seminar truly does depend on the students' participation. So far, the kids have been learning to step out of their comfort zones, appreciate the perspectives of others, and maybe even adjust their thinking because of the discussions we hold.
Awhile ago I viewed a Socratic Seminar at the high school level on The Teaching Channel. The featured teacher, Esther Wu, aptly explained why Socratic Seminars a strategy that my students and I have embraced: The kids doing the talking are the ones doing the learning. Though we're a bit rough around the edges right now, I have already seen growth in kids' communication and thinking skills and look forward to the amazing discussions yet to come.
So far this year, students in my ELA classroom have completed 3 Socratic Seminars. The first was on an essay excerpt from "On National Education" by Mary Wollstonecraft, an 18th Century writer, philosopher, and activist. During the Seminar, students discussed Wollstonecraft's viewpoint that children learn best when interacting with other children. Our second Seminar took us into the realm of poetry with Phillis Levin's "End of April," a poem about how a sudden discovery reminds the speaker of a loss in his/her life. Our third Seminar was held today over our read aloud The Graduation of Jake Moon, the story of an 8th grade boy who chronicles the decline of his grandfather due to Alzheimer's disease. Our discussion's focus was on possible themes for the book as well as how the story's characters, conflicts, and plot shaped the theme. Students ideas for themes included: sacrifice, loss, family, discovery, teamwork, change, and loyalty.
Socratic Seminars support Common Core Standards in all of the strands of English language arts, including reading, writing, language, and speaking and listening. A key part to a Socratic Seminar is that students learn how to communicate respectfully by being open to their classmates' ideas, encouraging quieter students to participate, and staying on task so that the group gets the most out of the discussion. The quality of each Seminar truly does depend on the students' participation. So far, the kids have been learning to step out of their comfort zones, appreciate the perspectives of others, and maybe even adjust their thinking because of the discussions we hold.
Awhile ago I viewed a Socratic Seminar at the high school level on The Teaching Channel. The featured teacher, Esther Wu, aptly explained why Socratic Seminars a strategy that my students and I have embraced: The kids doing the talking are the ones doing the learning. Though we're a bit rough around the edges right now, I have already seen growth in kids' communication and thinking skills and look forward to the amazing discussions yet to come.