Multi-genre
Thematic
Literature
Lists



Themes &
Essential
Questions

 

Tools for

Reading,
Writing,

& Thinking

ELA
Best
Practices



ELA
Home Page

"The Socratic method of teaching is based on Socrates' theory that it is more important to enable students to think for themselves than to merely fill their heads with "right" answers. Therefore, he regularly engaged his pupils in dialogues by responding to their questions with questions, instead of answers.  This process encourages divergent thinking rather than convergent thinking"  (Adams).

"Socratic questioning recognizes that questions, not answers, are the driving force in thinking.  Socratic seminars explore ideas, values, and issues drawn from readings or art works chosen for their richness.  They also provide a forum to expand participants' familiarity with works drawn from many cultural sources.  Leaders help participants to make sense of a text and of their own thinking by asking questions about reasoning, evidence, connections, examples, and other aspects of sound thinking. A good seminar is more devoted to making meaning than to mastering information.  Seminars strengthen participants' learning by getting them actively engaged in rigorous critical thought.  Practical activities are always followed by periods of reflection and discussion about what has been experienced.  The goal here is to allow learners to create a community of inquiry for the purpose of making meaning cooperatively" (Raider).

Socratic seminars are aligned with the New York State Learning Standards for English Language Arts

Standard 1: Students will read, write, listen, and speak for information and understanding.  As listeners and readers, students will collect data, facts, and ideas; discover relationships, concepts, and generalizations; and use knowledge generated from oral, written, and electronically produced texts.  As speakers and writers, they will use oral and written language to acquire, interpret, apply, and transmit information.

Standard 2: Students will read, write, listen and speak for literary response and expression.  Students will read and listen to oral, written, and electronically produced texts and performances from American and world literature: relate texts and performances to their own lives; and develop an understanding of the diverse social, historical, and cultural dimensions the texts and performances represent.

Standard 3: Students will read, write, listen, and speak for critical analysis and evaluation.  As listeners and readers, students will analyze experiences, ideas, information, and issues presented by others using a variety of established criteria. They will use oral and written language that follows the accepted conventions of the English language to present, from a variety of perspectives, their opinions and judgments on experiences ideas, information and issues.

Standard 4: Students will read, write, listen, and speak for social interaction.  Students will use oral and written language for effective social communication with a wide variety of people.  As readers and listeners, they will use the social communications of others to enrich their understanding of people and their views.