Our Lady of Grace School Faculty Grades TK-8

April 24, 2020 By Christopher Ferris

§ Objective
§ To learn about Socratic seminar strategies and implement Socratic seminars in the classroom to
engage students in critical thinking.

§ Standards
§ NBPTS: 2.5 Teachers appreciate how knowledge in their subject is created, organized, and linked
to other disciples.
§ TLMS: 3.C. Facilitates Professional learning among colleagues.
§ TLMS: 2.A. Assists colleagues in accessing and using research in order to select appropriate
strategies to improve student learning.
§ CSTP 1.5: Promoting critical thinking through inquiry, problem solving, and reflection
§ CSTP 2.4: Creating a rigorous learning environment with high expectations and appropriate
support for all students
§ Can I go to the bathroom?
§ Can I go get water?
§ Can I go to the nurse?
§ Can I go after he comes back?
§ What time does this class end?
§ Is this going to be on the test?
§ Something else that is completely unrelated

§ Why are students asking these questions instead of insightful probing questions to
help them understand the human experience?
§ When discussing a moral or ethical issue: “Why is that
true? What makes that right and just?”
§ When asking about a theme: “Could _____ also be the
lesson that the author wants to teach us because of
_________?”
§ When learning a rule in grammar: “How does that follow
when there is another instance that breaks that rule?”
§ When having a debate in class: “If you claim that ________,
wouldn’t you also need to consider?”

§ These are the questions that we as teachers are eager

to hear and engage in. They may even be the reason we
became teachers in the first place!!
Higher engagement and interest in
School = higher test scores

Better learning experiences

Greater chances of success in secondary

And post- secondary schooling
§Emphasis on discussion and inquiry utilizing
the Socratic seminar method of teaching
§ Different curriculum
§ Formal discussion
§ Based on a text
§ leader asks open-ended questions
§ students listen closely to the comments of others
§ thinking critically for themselves
§ articulate their own thoughts and their responses to the thoughts of
others.

§ http://www.readwritethink.org/professional-development/strategy-
guides/socratic-seminars-30600.html
§ When you have a discussion in class ask yourself the following questions:

Think about these questions: Response:

Are my discussions formal? Yes/ No

Are they based on a text? Yes/ No

Does you or the students ask open-ended Yes/ No

questions that they care about?
Do students know how to comment on Yes/ No
what other students contribute?
Can students actually articulate their Yes/ No
thoughts?
§ Now that we have seen the potential benefits of
Socratic Seminars, let’s go through the “how” of the
presentation.
 1. Desk
arrangement

2.Students have
read what will be
discussed

3. Observers

4. Notetakers

5. Post- discussion

Source: https://www.middleweb.com/8989/socratic-
6. Rotate Students
seminars-in-middle-school/
 § Emphasize the skills involved
§ Establish expectations for EACH role.
§ Customize the discussion questions and guided notes organizers as needed, but
the rubric and observation checklist can stay the same.
§ Make sure note-takers understand what good notes look like.

§ The observers’ job is to provide POSITIVE feedback.

§ To ease students’ nerves the first time around, make the first time a “dry run” for
credit and feedback, not a major grade.
§ Keep in mind that in order to conduct effective discussions about texts, students
must read and analyze texts effectively.

Source: https://www.middleweb.com/8989/socratic-seminars-in-middle-school/
• There are many ways to
arrange desks during the
seminar.
• One option other than the
“Fishbowl” discussion
format, you may want to
use a whole class circle as
shown here.

• It can work the same way,

as long as students are
actively participating and
space allows.
§ What are the two ways we have learned to implement Socratic Seminars in the
classroom?
§ Which way do you prefer?
§ You have seen two ways to structure Socratic Seminars in class. How can you work
into your classes?
§ What initial issues do you foresee when trying to first implement the seminar?
§ Share any experiences and ideas that you have where a Socratic Seminar would be
beneficial in your classroom with another member of the faculty.
§ Share out your ideas!
 ASSESSMENT
SURVEY

§ Please complete the Google Form and respond with feedback about the
presentation.
§ Consider:
§ How likely are you to use a Socratic Seminar in your class?
§ What did you learn today that you did not already know?
§ How well was the information presented?
§ Would you like a follow-up presentation on Socratic Seminars for your particular class/
subject?
Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSej-
gXSW_oXgIyQkrjEzfFGFk3QvNEnPg8pclAesT9NsDg0kA/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1