Higher-Order Fluency: A Socratic Approach

This interactive workshop introduces educators to the power of Socratic Seminars as a method for developing higher-order thinking through structured, student-driven dialogue. Participants will explore how to design and facilitate discussions that challenge students to analyze, question, and defend ideas using evidence-based reasoning. By experiencing a Socratic Seminar firsthand, educators will gain step-by-step insights into the process and learn how to adapt it for various subjects and grade levels. The session emphasizes inclusivity, intellectual curiosity, and collaborative classroom culture, with an emphasis on building students’ confidence and communication skills.

• Student disengagement and lack of participation in discussions
  
  
• Surface-level comprehension and minimal critical thinking in classroom discourse
  
  
• Need for inclusive discussion formats that promote student voice and respectful dialogue
  
  
• Limited teacher strategies for implementing inquiry-based learning across subjects
  

1. Facilitating Socratic Seminars
   Participants will learn how to plan and guide Socratic Seminars, including crafting open-ended, thought-provoking questions, establishing norms for respectful discourse, and fostering sustained dialogue among students.
   
   
2. Cultivating Higher-Order Thinking Skills
   Educators will explore how to nurture analytical thinking by engaging students in conversations that require justification of ideas, text-based evidence, and critical response. Strategies will include scaffolding techniques for students with varying levels of readiness.
   
   
3. Adapting the Approach Across Content Areas
   Teachers will gain practical tools for integrating the Socratic method into different subjects and grade levels. They will leave with a toolkit of strategies for creating engaging, standards-aligned discussions that promote student autonomy and a deeper understanding of academic content