Fresh English: Preparing for a Socratic Seminar

Monday, April 23, 2018

Preparing for a Socratic Seminar

Goal: Understand the difference between open and closed questions. Write open ended questions about articles we have read in this unit.

Agenda:
Read
Finish documentary (periods 1-3-5)
Review articles and write questions
Socratic Seminar prep

Open questions:

A socratic seminar needs an open question, something worth discussing and something with more than one possible perspectives. Today you'll write some open questions related to our current readings.
(Closed questions have simple answers and generally don't promote discussion.)

Socratic Seminar Preparation:

On Friday we are going to have a Socratic Seminar discussion based on the readings in this unit.
To prepare for that you will be looking closely at the articles we have read and creating questions that will guide our discussion.
You will prepare answers based on our readings/viewings and your own perspective.
I have your preparation doc for you on paper. If you would prefer a digital version you can make a copy HERE.
Your preparation doc is due on Thursday. Print it or prepare using a paper copy from me.

Reminders:

Keep reading. You need a non-fiction article to pair with book #10. (It should already be a link in your English Journal. If it is not find one today.)

No comments:

Post a Comment

Gradebook Explained

My grade book is on Power School for you to view. There are some things you need to know.

If you have a blank score or missing score that is not bad. Often scores are left blank when I do not grade an assignment right away. Sometimes blanks mean a student was absent for an in class experience. The point is do not panic about blank or missing scores.

Zeros however, are a real problem. Students get zeros when they do not turn in an assignment that they should have done. Zeros usually appear after I have asked the student several times to get the work finished. Students can sometimes undo a zero by turning in the work late. Some assignments can be regraded. See the button at the top of the blog to request a re-grade.

Often I do not enter many assignments until the end of the grading period when projects we have been working on for a few weeks become due. I try to enter progress grades every few weeks into the "progress category." Note that the progress category is only 10% of the total grade. Low scores on progress grades indicates that a student needs to improve their work before the final project is due.

Grade categories are weighted as follows:

50% Writing & Speaking (Essays, some in class assessments, and speaking assignments.)

40% Reading & Listening (Book reviews and reading progress and some listening assessments.)

10% Progress (writing draft grades, turning in required paperwork, some formative assessments)

Student grades are based on meeting grade level standard proficiencies. This is not a points or numbers game. There is no extra credit, but there may be additional opportunities to show proficiency.

I hope this will resolve some confusion. Of course if you have questions about grades please e-mail me.

Pages

Monday, April 23, 2018

Preparing for a Socratic Seminar

No comments:

Post a Comment

Visitors