A Socratic Seminar, or guided group discussion, is designed to provide opportunities for students to engage in thoughtful dialogue around a designated primary source document related to the content. Before using this method, we need to explicitly teach thinking approaches and procedures around this process. When implemented successfully, students have opportunities to discuss and activate prior knowledge as well as practice critical thinking skills. Students confirm and reaffirm their assertions and practice critical thinking with others.
Meaningful discussion is most important for all students, but especially for English learners whose first language is not English. When students “talk” they are also listening and translating words from English to their home language and back again. This process allows the students, to begin to connect words to concrete concepts and grasp their second language more readily. All students need to practice speaking and listening.
As educators we continually strive to support students in reaching the “aha” moment. How often do we pause and reflect on the instructional approaches or methods of supporting them with differentiation in mind? Consider these methods discussed and read more about the philosophy of these approaches.
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Retrieved From:
1 Bruner, J. S. (1966). Toward a theory of instruction (Vol. 59). Harvard University Press.
2 Bruner, J. (2004). A short history of psychological theories of learning. Daedalus, 133(1), 13-20.
3 Cortazzi, M., & Hall, B. (1998). Vygotsky and learning. Education Libraries Journal, 41(3), 17.
4 Vygotsky, L. S., & Cole, M. (1978). Mind in society: Development of higher psychological processes. Harvard university press.
5 Vygotsky, L., & Cole, M. (2018). Lev Vygotsky: learning and social constructivism. Learning Theories for Early Years Practice, 58.