“You know, Ms. G… this is like anger management therapy” My heart cringed, wondering where Will was going with his comment. A tall, lanky 8th grader, he was looked up to – in every sense of the word – by the others in the class. Though it was a small class, they had huge needs… and if my experiment in the classroom structure triggered any one’s personality… well…
It was early in the school year and I was striving to create lessons to reach and teach every student while trying to find my way in my first year in this school, this community, and with 8th grade students who seemed little interested in language arts class.
So I structured a Socratic Seminar around Francis Bacon’s “On Anger.” Though my management of the elements of the seminar may not have impressed the Touchstones/Paideia Discussion experts, I think the students’ engagement and ultimately respectful treatment of varying opinions and perspectives would have shown the importance of offering the seminar format to all students.
So, when Will sat back, stretching his long legs in the center of our circle and cocked his head saying, “You know Ms. G…” letting a smile crack his serious demeanor – I knew I’d found a new management and learning tool for this class. On any given day, even without formally using the steps of a Socratic Seminar, whenever I invited the class to form a discussion circle at the back of the room, I had instant buy-in.
The students knew they’d hear each other’s understanding and thereby help their own comprehension… they knew their voice would be heard.
