Thanks, Socrates!

Aim: How do we use discussion to evaluate what we've learned about mindset and public selective (magnet) schools?

Quick Write: Using one of the sentence starters ...I think....I wonder...I noticed....I believe..... on a post-it write two statements or open-ended questions regarding public selective (magnet) schools and/or mindset to get a discussion going during today's Socratic seminar.

The gif to the right is a cartoon of Socrates, the father of Greek philosophy. Socratic seminars are inspired by Socrates' belief in the power of questions to learn. In his view, questions are more important than facts and discussion is more productive than debate. Learning is achieved through inquiry (questioning).

Today we will have a Socratic seminar. We will divide up into coaching pairs. When one partner is participating in the discussion, the other will be evaluating her or his partner's participation using the observation form and the student-generated rubric on the back.

The most important point to remember is that a Socratic seminar is a discussion NOT a debate. We are learning through inquiry (questioning). As is always the case, opinions must be supported with hard evidence from the text and/or experience.

The guidelines for Socratic seminar are posted as a page on this blog. Hard copies also are available in the classroom.

During your discussion today, consider these critical questions......

• How do we even define "smart" using the mindset lens?
• Do selective schools promote a growth mindset? If so, how? If not, why not?
• How might selective schools affect students who do not get accepted to them?
• How might selective schools affect students who do get accepted to them?
• How might selective (magnet) schools benefit ALL students' intellectual growth. (Or does it?)
• How might ability tracking harm students' intellectual growth?  (Or does it?)

Final Reflection: Describe, analyze or evaluate how today's Socratic seminar clarified the issues of mindset and ability tracking for you. What still confuses you about these issues? Do you find mindset psychology useful? Explain.

Standards
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.11-12.2 Integrate multiple sources of information presented in diverse formats and media (e.g., visually, quantitatively, orally) in order to make informed decisions and solve problems, evaluating the credibility and accuracy of each source and noting any discrepancies among the data.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.11-12.3 Evaluate a speaker’s point of view, reasoning, and use of evidence and rhetoric, assessing the stance, premises, links among ideas, word choice, points of emphasis, and tone used.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.11-12.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information.