Socratic Seminars in Middle School ― Texts and Films That Engage Students in Reflective Thinking and Close Reading

Teach students how to engage in thoughtful discussions about a text. Socratic seminars are highly effective at helping students read closely and think critically about what they’ve read. They also teach students how to participate in authentic discussions. This practical book from bestselling authors Victor and Marc Moeller is your go-to guide for getting started! It will help teachers who are new at Socratic seminars and provide fresh ideas to teachers who are experienced with the format. Part I provides guidelines on how to prepare students for discussion and how to form good discussion questions. Part II includes ready-to-use lesson plans organized by compelling themes to engage students. The lesson plans include unabridged literary and nonfiction reading selections from classic and contemporary authors, as well as suggested film pairings.

• William Faulkner

• Gina Berriault

• Gene Siskel

• President Obama

• Ray Bradbury

• Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

• Kahil Gibran

• William Shakespeare

• Robert Frost

• William Saroyan

• Carson McCullers

• And more!

Victor J. Moeller is an English professor at McHenry Community College in Illinois.

Marc V. Moeller teaches English at Prairie Middle School in the Barrington Community Unit School District in Illinois.