Socratic Seminar “I cannot teach anybody anything, I can only make them think.” - Socrates

Socratic Seminar Socratic seminars have rules that may not apply to other forms of discussion Before we begin it is important that everyone is aware of the norms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oG64GWp E9Jo

Rules Talk to each other, not to the teacher Refer to evidence from the text to support your ideas. Ask questions if you do not understand what someone has said, or you can paraphrase what another student has said for clarification. (“I think you said this, is that right?”)

Rules Do not raise your hands to speak, but please pay attention to your “airtime” – how much you have spoken in relation to other students. Don’t interrupt. Don’t put down the ideas of another student. Without judging the student who you may disagree with, state your alternate interpretation or ask a follow-up question to help probe or clarify an idea.

Scientists argue, but they argue about ideas. Accountable Talk Scientists argue, but they argue about ideas.

Accountable Talk In accountable talk, we increase our understanding and strengthen our reasoning skills by discussing ideas and linking them to reliable sources of evidence Accountable talk will help you be a better think and problem solver, and will help you understand complex ideas

Accountable Talk in our class: We can see and hear each other We listen to each other without interrupting the current speaker We build on each other’s ideas, making sure our contributions are relevant to the topic We speak respectfully to one another, challenging arguments, not the speaker

Accountable Talk with info & evidence: We refer to reliable sources of evidence and information We question and check evidence that is offered by others We can challenge the quality of each other’s assumptions, evidence, reasoning, or conclusions Connect with knowledge previously gained

Accountable Talk & Logical Thinking We work to connect evidence and inferences to identify the most plausible explanation We seek and use credible facts We examine evidence critically We test our own understandings of concepts

Accountable Talk Sentence Starters To add your thoughts: I agree with ______________ because… I disagree with ___________ because… That reminds me of… I predict… I figured out… I also noticed… I’d like to add that… According to the evidence, I think… That idea doesn’t make sense because…

Accountable Talk Sentence Starters To ask general questions: I wonder why… I have a question about… I don’t understand… How does that work?

Accountable Talk Sentence Starters To reply to a previous speaker: Say more about what you mean. I don’t understand what you mean. Where is the information that makes you say that? Can you show where that is in the… text/data/illustration? What is your evidence? Why do you think that? How do you know that?

Accountable Talk Sentence Starters To help keep everyone on track: We’re getting too far way from the topic. How does that relate to the topic?

Accountable Talk & Incorporating Others To incorporate others into the conversation… What do you think, (name)? I would like to know what (name) thinks? I was wondering what (name) thinks about...

What will the Socratic Seminar Look like?

Procedure You have already read and annotated your article(s) Half the class will discuss in the inner circle, while the other half observes in the outer circle Inner circle, you must contribute your 2 cents to the conversation (put a penny in your cup each time you make an important contribution) Outer circle, you must observe your partner and fill in your worksheet

Procedure As your Do Now today you had to write three questions about the topic we are discussing One person from the inner circle will be selected to begin by asking one of their questions 10 minutes of discussion 3 minute coaching session with your outer circle partner 5 minutes of discussion to wrap up and make final contributions Switch – the inner circle becomes the outer circle and the discussion begins again