ABSTRACT

Teach students how to engage in thoughtful discussions about a text. Socratic seminars are highly effective at helping students read closely and think critically about what they’ve read. They also teach students how to participate in authentic discussions. This practical book from bestselling authors Victor and Marc Moeller is your go-to guide for getting started! It will help teachers who are new at Socratic seminars and provide fresh ideas to teachers who are experienced with the format. Part I provides guidelines on how to prepare students for discussion and how to form good discussion questions. Part II includes ready-to-use lesson plans organized by compelling themes to engage students. The lesson plans include unabridged literary and nonfiction reading selections from classic and contemporary authors, as well as suggested film pairings.

Authors featured in this book include...

  • William Faulkner
  • Gina Berriault
  • Gene Siskel
  • President Obama
  • Ray Bradbury
  • Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.
  • Kahil Gibran
  • William Shakespeare
  • Robert Frost
  • William Saroyan
  • Carson McCullers
  • And more!

part I|63 pages

The Socratic Method

chapter 1|6 pages

Two Models of Teaching

If Good Teaching is a Dialogue, Why Does the Monologue Continue to Dominate?

chapter 3|14 pages

Lesson Plan 1

Active and Close Reading

chapter 4|5 pages

Lesson Plan 2

Three Kinds of Questions

chapter 5|5 pages

Lesson Plan 3

Qualities of Good Discussion Questions

chapter 6|8 pages

Lesson Plan 4

Basic Interpretive Questions

chapter 7|10 pages

Lesson Plan 5

Spontaneous Follow-up Questions

chapter 8|9 pages

Lesson Plan 6

Preparing Students For Discussion

part II|153 pages

Socratic Seminars

chapter 9|10 pages

Socratic Seminars and Film

An Overview: Great Books Common Core Curriculum

chapter 10|44 pages

Lesson Plans 7 and 8

How Important is a Girlfriend, a Brother, or a Parent in Your Life?

chapter 11|22 pages

Lesson Plan 9

Is Technology as Much a Curse as a Blessing?

chapter 12|21 pages

Lesson Plan 10

Is the Desire to Excel as Strong as the Tendency to be Mediocre?

chapter 13|20 pages

Lesson Plans 11 and 12

Who Are Your Real Friends?

chapter 14|11 pages

Lesson Plan 13

How Important is God in Your Life?

chapter 15|23 pages

Lesson Plan 14

How Does Someone Cope With a Death in the Family?