Socratic Circles

1
Socratic Circles

• A Socratic circle has students working
  collaboratively to construct a common vision of
  truth and understanding that serves all members
  of the group equally.

2
Before a Socratic Circle

• Students spend time reading, analyzing, and
  annotating a given text.
• This is your ticket into the Socratic circle at
  the next class meeting.

3
The Day of a Socratic Circle

• Students are randomly divided into two concentric
  circles an INNER circle and an OUTER circle
• Students in the INNER circle read the passage
  aloud and then engage in a discussion for
  approximately ten minutes, while students in the
  OUTER circle silently observe the behavior and
  performance of the INNER circle

4

• After the approximate ten-minute discussion of
  the text, the OUTER circle assesses the INNER
  circles performance and gives ten minutes of
  feedback for the INNER circle
• Students then exchange roles and positions
• The new INNER circle holds a ten-minute
  discussion and then receives ten minutes of
  feedback from the new OUTER circle

5
The Teachers Role in Socratic Circle

• Select the text for discussion
• Keep the discussion of the INNER circle focused
  and moving
• Direct the feedback of the OUTER circle
• ASSESS and EVALUATE the individual student and
  group performances

6
Directing the Conversation of the OUTER Circle

• Ask for initial observations rate INNER circle
  from scale from 1 to 10.
• Providing feedback is not a onetime, isolated
  event but an ongoing struggle for improvement,
  Socratic circle after Socratic circle.

7
Socratic Circles are a DIALOGUE, not a DEBATE
DIALOGUE DEBATE
Collaborative Oppositional
Finding common ground is goal Winning is the goal
Enlarges and possibly changes a participants point of view Affirms a persons own point of view
Causes introspection on ones own position Causes critique of the other position
One searches for strengths in the other position One searches for flaws and weaknesses in the other position
Everyone is part of the solution/dialogue One person or viewpoint wins over the other
Affirms the idea of people learning from each other Affirms the idea of people learning individually in competition with others
Remains open-ended Implies a conclusion

8
Three Types of Questions
FACT What does the author say?

INTERPRETATION What does the author mean?

EVALUATION Is it true?

9
Goal Setting

• Goals are typically taken directly from the
  observations from the inner circle

10
Socratic Circle Scorecard5 Outstanding 4 Good 3
Average 2 Below Average 1 Not Acceptable Class
______________ Date _______________ Topic
__________________________________________
Students Name Reading of text and preparation for circle Engaged in discussion and stays on task Supports ideas with references to the text Encourages thinking and participation in others Listens respectfully and builds from ideas of others Presents self and ideas in a civil and proper manner Questions insightfully and uses sound reasoning Accepts more than one point of view on the text
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.



11
Text Annotation

• Circle any unfamiliar words and add denotation
  and connotation if applicable
• Underline key phrases
• Keep track of the story or idea as it unfolds
• Note word patterns and repetitions or anything
  that strikes you as confusing or important
• Write questions in margins