Making Sense of Socratic Seminar: Scaffolding for Effective Student Engagement Leslie A Birdon October 25, Joint LSTA/LMTA Joint Conference

Scaffolding Timeline 1. Students watch a video and discuss protocol. 2. Students review the essential question for focus. 3. Students read and annotate a common text. 4. Students create a focus question using question stems. 5. Students arrange chairs for discussion.

Rules Discuss, do not debate. Be courteous, NO PUTDOWNS. Goal is the pursuit of deeper understanding. Respect different thoughts and ideas

Protocol Refer to the text when needed during the discussion. This is not a test of memory. Do not stay confused; as for clarification of both ideas and definitions. Discuss ideas, rather than other’s opinions. It’s OK to pass when your turn comes; participate at another time instead. Do not participate if you are not prepared. Stick to the point currently under discussion; write down inspirational ideas so you can bring them up at a more appropriate time in the conversation. Listen carefully, especially when you are waiting to speak, as they may be moving on to another point. Speak up so that all participants can hear you; don’t speak while others are. Remember that this is a conversation between students, not between student and teacher.

Video Overview

Review Self Assessment Circle key behaviors and note how they are rated. Talk to a partner why these words were chosen.

Focus Review- Think Pair Share In your interactive notebook, you will review your article and RT graphic organizer. Using reference page 4, you will review or create your higher-level question for discussion for 2 minutes. In your pairs, you will take turns discussing your higher level question for review and take notes on article if needed.

SAMPLE

First Round Use the following questions to help with your group discussion: How would you describe American attitude toward the metric system? When did the metric system happen? Who designed the dollar in the United States?

Second Round How is measurement related to economy? How would you describe the sequence of events for global acceptance of the metric system? What facts would you select to support why the metric system was adopted?

Third Round How might the metric system change measurement in the United States?

Rate yourself and Summarize key Points Please rate your own performance in the seminar. Compare your rating to your partner’s rating. Write through the questions. Pick 3 questions that you wish to answer and complete those questions for closure discussion.

Sample

FEEDBACK

Contact Information Leslie A Birdon,NBCT Riser Middle School-Ouachita