Socratic Circles/Seminar

What is a side conversation?

• Conversation that is to the group
• Conversation with everyone
• Conversation NOT to the group, but with an individual

Which of the following is a requirement of a Socratic Seminar classroom?

• A) Curiosity and critical thinking are fostered by engaging students in real world unanswered questions
• B) Participants respectfully dialogue about the investigated topic.
• C) Participants debate the importance of the issues being investigated
• Both A and B

Which of the following is NOT an example of a Socratic Seminar discussion?

• Teacher led
• Deeper questions
• All of the above are examples of Socratic Seminars
• Accountable Talk

It is okay to respectfully disagree with your classmates. 

• True
• False

You should not tell someone their ideas are wrong or dumb during a socratic seminar.

• True
• False

During a Socratic Seminar you should respect your fellow classmates and listen carefully to their responses and questions. 

• False
• True

During a Socratic Circle/Seminar you should interrupt your classmates if you have a very important point to make. 

• False!
• True!

The class has 25 or more students.  How can they all participate?

• Inner/outer circle or Fishbowl
• Triads/Pilot and Co-pilots
• Separate activities or Simultaneous seminars
• All of the above

When dialogue stalls or no one is talking...

• a. The teacher should cancel the seminar
• b. The teacher should resist the urge to end the seminar and allow things to organically restart
• c. The teacher should ask a guiding question to help move the seminar along
• d. Both b and c

Socratic Circles/Seminars are structured discussions around a common text or resource. 

• True
• False