Please share something that stood out for you today in our discussion, reading, and/or research. What ideas do you have for creating a seminar? What questions do you have?
I'm excited about the different texts that Marion, Simona, Diana & Mary mentioned. Adrienne Rich's "Perspective Immigrants," The Beatles' "Yesterday," MLK Jr.'s "Letters from Birmingham Jail," Ayn Rand's "Anthem," etc. However, the blocker won't let me google these! I can see how some of these relate to To Kill a Mockingbird (English 9) and Bodega Dreams/The Great Gatsby (English 11), but I'd love to be able to access them now.
I have a few ideas in mind for a Socratic Seminar (reviewing chapters 1-3 of The Great Gatsby), but I'm not sure what I'll put together. There are SO many themes worth talking about: misogyny, time, alcoholism, class differences, infidelity, materialism, etc. Sometimes I don't know where to begin. Maybe one idea is to bring in a poem or song lyrics and ask students to discuss which theme the secondary work hits on and why? I don't want it to be obvious and I'd like the song or poem to lead into a deeper conversation.
I see how powerful the seminar can be on so many levels, as well as the teacher involvement. Since I haven't experienced planning a seminar, I am looking forward to learning. I will need to work out some planning time with my ELA co-teacher who is familiar with socratic seminars and looking forward to the lesson. We would be able to split the group into two groups. Some ideas are general topics such as desperation, bullying, homelessness, etc. using the book "Holes". A short text from the book, a poem, etc. is where I am intially thinking.
Very often, working with music allows the students to think more freely and openly. Though I have been incorporating music into my classroom for a while, I have never thought to use it as the basis for a Socratic Seminar. I am excited to use today's protocol activity while evaluating song lyrics. For example, in "Yesterday" by The Beatles, I will ask students to read the lyrics and then identify one word, phrase and sentence to evaluate. I am looking forward to the students' responses and their ability to render a connection between the song lyrics, the discussion and the current text, Hamlet. The goal is to promote critical thinking and to "deepen their collective understanding of the materials they discuss" (Tredway). Wish me luck ;)
Finding an approrpiate text for AP-level seniors is a relatively easy task, especially in a government course. I'm having a difficult time finding an appropriate text for my freshmen students. I'm looking for something which is challenging and engaging but also something students feel they have the ability to approach and expand upon. My search continues...
I'm excited about the different texts that Marion, Simona, Diana & Mary mentioned. Adrienne Rich's "Perspective Immigrants," The Beatles' "Yesterday," MLK Jr.'s "Letters from Birmingham Jail," Ayn Rand's "Anthem," etc. However, the blocker won't let me google these! I can see how some of these relate to To Kill a Mockingbird (English 9) and Bodega Dreams/The Great Gatsby (English 11), but I'd love to be able to access them now.
ReplyDeleteI have a few ideas in mind for a Socratic Seminar (reviewing chapters 1-3 of The Great Gatsby), but I'm not sure what I'll put together. There are SO many themes worth talking about: misogyny, time, alcoholism, class differences, infidelity, materialism, etc. Sometimes I don't know where to begin. Maybe one idea is to bring in a poem or song lyrics and ask students to discuss which theme the secondary work hits on and why? I don't want it to be obvious and I'd like the song or poem to lead into a deeper conversation.
I see how powerful the seminar can be on so many levels, as well as the teacher involvement. Since I haven't experienced planning a seminar, I am looking forward to learning.
ReplyDeleteI will need to work out some planning time with my ELA co-teacher who is familiar with socratic seminars and looking forward to the lesson. We would be able to split the group into two groups. Some ideas are general topics such as desperation, bullying, homelessness, etc. using the book "Holes". A short text from the book, a poem, etc. is where I am intially thinking.
Very often, working with music allows the students to think more freely and openly. Though I have been incorporating music into my classroom for a while, I have never thought to use it as the basis for a Socratic Seminar. I am excited to use today's protocol activity while evaluating song lyrics. For example, in "Yesterday" by The Beatles, I will ask students to read the lyrics and then identify one word, phrase and sentence to evaluate. I am looking forward to the students' responses and their ability to render a connection between the song lyrics, the discussion and the current text, Hamlet. The goal is to promote critical thinking and to "deepen their collective understanding of the materials they discuss" (Tredway). Wish me luck ;)
ReplyDeleteFinding an approrpiate text for AP-level seniors is a relatively easy task, especially in a government course. I'm having a difficult time finding an appropriate text for my freshmen students. I'm looking for something which is challenging and engaging but also something students feel they have the ability to approach and expand upon. My search continues...
ReplyDelete