‘Expectations Gap’ May Be Contributing Factor in Dropout Crisis, Report Finds

http://www.civicenterprises.net/pdfs/thesilentepidemic3-06.pdf

Community Business Partnership

KDSL is on the Fairfax County Community Business Partnership web site

http://www.cbponline.org/component/option,com_sobi2/sobi2Task,sobi2Details/catid,18/sobi2Id,61/Itemid,38/

Socratic Seminar Pictures

Socratic Seminar for Teachers

Dreams

 

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

Hold fast to dreams

For when dreams go

Life is a barren field

Frozen with snow.

-Langston Hughes

 

 On  June 10 I modeled a Socratic Seminar in a grade 4 class for two teachers using the poem above.  On the first day (June 9) I introduced who Socrates was, used a photo of him to analyze, and defined what a seminar is. We did a choral read of poem and discussed what we knew about dreams. Next students selected one of the following to write about- what they liked or disliked about the poem, what surprised them, what puzzled them. Students wrote their own open-ended questions (what we called thick or fat questions) they wanted to discuss with peers. Questions were related to dreams and the poem. There questions are below. The etiquette of the seminar was also introduced. For example, be courteous; pass if you are not ready; answer only the questions raised; address each other as Mr. and/or Ms.

Dreams Socratic Seminar Questions…

• What is a world without dreams?
• Who makes dreams and why?
• What happens if we do not have dreams?
• Do dreams come true?
• Why do we have bad dreams?
• How long can we dream?
• When does a dream stop?
• What would you change about the poem?
• How do dreams effect life?
• Do nightmares come true?
• Why do we have nightmares?
• Is there a pattern of what is in dreams?
• Do really logical people like scientists have dreams?
• Why are dreams important?
• What do you think about dreams?
• Tell about a dream you remember in your life.

On the day of seminar the grade 4 teacher and I asked the students questions. We were joined by the Middle Years Art Teacher who was keen to learn more about these types of seminars. All students participated, listened effectively to what their classmates had to say, and questioned the opinions of others.  A great dialogue broke out between two students about how dreams can change as you grow older and whether dreams depend on your resources.

The teachers who participated said…

“Thanks for letting me observe. It has given me lots of ideas for art classes and how to develop critical analysis in the art room.”

“It was so good to see the children be so mature and listen to each other.  The discussion was not dominated by the usual kids who always know everything.  Good work. I will definitely use this approach in the classroom again and again.”

For more information on Socratic Seminars please visit the website below

http://www.greece.k12.ny.us/instruction/ela/SocraticSeminars/overview.htm

Resources for Educators

Below are two wonderful online resources for educators courtesy of Anna Batchelder, CEO and Founder of Bon Education.

www.curriki.org

http://literacyispriceless.wordpress.com/

http://freereading.net/index.php?title=Main_Page

New Partnership

KDSL will partner with N2Education Consultants of Virginia.