November 17, 2107

Objective:  I can actively participate in an evidenced-based discussion by speaking and/or writing evidence to support my or others’ answers to an essential question.

Language:  I can access the quality of my participation by using the sentence stems:

  • “Evidence that I achieve my goal is…”
  • “To prepare for our next seminar I will…”

BW:  Think/Write:

Essential Question:  Has the use of cellphones in our school diminished the ability for substantial learning to occur?

BW Task:  Find 2 pieces of evidence(1 for and 1 against) and write them down in your notebook.  Mark the one for as +, and the one against as -.

Activities:

  1.  Indpendent Study:  Read the first skill in the “Exemplary” Column for “Analysis,” “Discussion,” and “Civility” of the Socratic Seminar Rubric.  Notice the changes by the “Developing” Column.
  2. Independent Study:  Select one of the three Focus Skills and write it as “my goal” in the appropriate space.
  3. Video:  As you view Socratic Seminar in Action, list at least one piece of evidence for each of the three Focus Skills.
  4. Share Out:  What did you notice?
  5. Socratic Discussion:  As speakers in the inner circle make their points to agree and disagree, the outer circle students will mark evidence of the three Focus Skills for their respective speakers.
  6. Halftime Feedback:  Outer Circle students will share their constructive criticism with the speakers.
  7.  Independent Study:  Students will ensure that they complete the line of “evidence that I achieved my goal” on the back of the Socratic Seminar Rubric.
  8. Debrief:  Some speakers will share out:  Accomplishments? Challenges?
  9. Whole-Class Consensus:  Students will discuss and write down the “class goal” for the next Socratic Circle and how to “prepare” for the next one in the “Reflection and Goal Setting” form.