As the "assessment" for our students' required summer reading, we chose to use a variation of the Socratic seminar to check student understanding. Students met with 5-8 others who read the same book and talked/discussed/dissected the text. It was wonderful, as a teacher, to hear students talking about books! I feel like I got to know my students better as readers and learners.
A few groups of students struggled and wanted to just answer the questions they had prepared. Other groups had wonderful, text-based discussions about the books. As a first try at the discussion format, I was pleased with what I saw and heard. Multiple students were able to connect their books to real life and to their recent studies in social studies class. I heard students talk about character development, setting, plot, writing techniques, and what could possibly happen after the book ends.
The next time we meet in Socratic seminars will be after reading Elie Wiesel's memoir, Night. These seminars will require students to use the text to support their thoughts and opinions. I can't wait to see their thinking!
A few groups of students struggled and wanted to just answer the questions they had prepared. Other groups had wonderful, text-based discussions about the books. As a first try at the discussion format, I was pleased with what I saw and heard. Multiple students were able to connect their books to real life and to their recent studies in social studies class. I heard students talk about character development, setting, plot, writing techniques, and what could possibly happen after the book ends.
The next time we meet in Socratic seminars will be after reading Elie Wiesel's memoir, Night. These seminars will require students to use the text to support their thoughts and opinions. I can't wait to see their thinking!
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