Learning to Lead Socratic Seminars has changed the lives of teachers all over the world. This session is targeted to teachers who are looking for ways to engage even the most reticent students, enhance reading skills, improve classroom discussion, and challenge all students. After a good seminar, students not only leave the classroom excited about ideas that directly affect their lives, but they come back the next day asking for more. Seminars work well in all grade levels and subject areas. In Socratic Seminars, the leader and participants work together to understand what the author is saying, what words mean, and how the ideas discussed are significant to the lives of people today. Seminar participants gain life skills not only in critical reading and in speaking clearly, but also in listening to each others' views and considering evidence from different viewpoints. These are important skills schools can develop to help society return from what some call today’s “tribalist” culture. Materials for seminar discussions can include: primary sources, historical documents, literature, works of art, poetry, music and movies, as well as provocative writing in all subject areas, songs, speeches and essays, intriguing STEM problems and concepts, etc.
PowerPoint Presentation
Packet Handout
