Best Day in a Classroom!

The day before February vacation we had the very best day in the classroom!   A teacher's dream! What does a teacher dream about? It's one of those days that things just fall into place, no interruptions, the kids are paying attention, no one is staring out the window daydreaming of sunny warm days,  hands are going up to answer questions, to ask questions, to make a statement!   The BIG A-Ha moment!   It was one of those kind of days. Are you wondering what we did?  We conducted a Socratic Seminar. I had been hearing about other teachers having students participate in these conversations where they delved deeper into the text they were reading, they asked questions, clarified, and had deep meaningful conversations about their reading. And the biggest part....it was all student driven. I sat back and listen and I didn't say a word.   All of this happening in one class session...I couldn't believe it. I had to see it with my own eyes. So I did.  I observed another 6th grade classroom that would be holding a Socratic Seminar that morning.  I was amazed!  I couldn't wait to try it out! I prepped and researched the best ways to bring this into my classroom and then I jumped in with two feet and my eyes wide open! And the students blew me away!  

Students prepare with their literature group before the Socratic Seminar Their conversation was thoughtful and just amazing. Their discussion of essential questions based on their reading was out of this world! I could go on and on but you can see it for yourself!
Take a look! Students discuss reading  The Watson's Go to Birmingham-1963 CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.1
Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3
Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.