1. Socratic Seminar
Alexis fisher

2. basics Should be used as an AFTER READING strategy
The goal is to increase comprehension and language use
Inquiry based approach
Modeled after Socrates- “dialogue is the path to solving complex issues with opposing viewpoints”
Used almost exclusively to discuss a difficult text

3. Outcomes Student should be able to: While: Interpret major themes
Think critically about a text
Support reasoning through textual evidence
While:
Stating their opinions to an audience
Listen to others’ opinions without interrupting

4. The process
Choose a text that is complex and/or has more than one interpretation (ex. “The Yellow Wallpaper”)
Create text-dependent questions
Students should refer back to text to answer
Eventually the students should be able to take this over
Give students time to process and work with the text-have them annotate as they read
Will give discussion more depth
Culminating activity (most instruction should have already occurred)

5. Classroom arrangement
Desks and chairs can be arranged in several ways
One large circle
Two circles; an inner circle and outer circle
It would be the inner circle’s job to participate in the discussion
Outer circle would take notes and actively listen to inner circle (pick one person to focus on)
Then they would switch
Would work particularly well with large classes or classes that require high structure
Develop a “parking lot”
Will encourage participation without interruption

6. Possible arrangement

7. Student expectations Communicate rules for the seminar
This includes both the inner and outer circle
For evaluation, create a minimum number of contributions
Ex. Each student must speak three times while they are in the inner circle
Can be a question, clarification, or response
Make it clear that students should not interrupt or put down their classmates.
Have discussion with students about their own expectations for the seminar

8. questions Students should have their text with them
The first question should be general but thought provoking
Will not be answered quickly
Silence is okay at the beginning!
Create questions dependent on text as a framework
Students should be able to add their own insights and questions from the parking lot
Teacher is a facilitator-should not respond to questions except to guide the discussion

9. closing
Closing questions should help students make connections with their background knowledge
After the seminar:
Students should reflect on their experiences (contributions, ideas, new interpretations)
Students should turn in their notes
Also reflection time for the teacher (What worked? What didn’t?)

10. Works cited
Fisher, D., Brozo, W.G., Frey, N., & Ivey, G. (2015) instructional routines to develop content literacy (3rd ed.). Boston: Pearson.
(2014). “Teaching Strategy: Socratic Seminar.” Facing History and ourselves.