[Episode 24] Inviting Socratic Questioning Into the Classroom

What are the questions that your students carry inside of them but rarely ever discuss?

2015 National Teacher of the Year Shanna Peeples wanted to find out. What started as a small idea or strategy to help students build empathy transformed into nearly 15 years of work helping children -- and adults -- voice the questions they carry inside them. On this episode of Tch Talks, Shanna talks about why it's important for both students and teachers to "Think Like Socrates," to allow students to take ownership of their own learning through authentic questions, and to leverage student questions as learning experiences that develop critical thinking.

For Shanna, curiosity is key, and allowing students to own their learning through creating questions is the most fundamental change a teacher can make in their teaching practice.

Resources:Response: Students Can 'Own Their Learning Through Creating Questions'We Become Who People Say We AreCheck out Shanna's websiteShanna Peeples: PresentationsDraft Protocol for Generating Students’ Authentic Questions50 Great Teachers: Socrates, The Ancient World's Teaching SuperstarFollow @ShannaPeeples on TwitterFollow Shanna Peeples on FacebookFollow @slpeeple on InstagramDogfooding: How Often Do You Do Your Own Assignments by Cult of PedagogyBig Thinkers: Judy Willis on the Science of Learning, EdutopiaThe Heart of Philosophy by Jacob NeedlemanThe Ten Great Questions of the Heart by Jacob NeedlemanThe Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life by Parker Palmer
Teaching Channel Resources:

What are the questions that your students carry inside of them but rarely ever discuss?

2015 National Teacher of the Year Shanna Peeples wanted to find out. What started as a small idea or strategy to help students build empathy transformed into nearly 15 years of work helping children -- and adults -- voice the questions they carry inside them. On this episode of Tch Talks, Shanna talks about why it's important for both students and teachers to "Think Like Socrates," to allow students to take ownership of their own learning through authentic questions, and to leverage student questions as learning experiences that develop critical thinking.

For Shanna, curiosity is key, and allowing students to own their learning through creating questions is the most fundamental change a teacher can make in their teaching practice.

Resources:Response: Students Can 'Own Their Learning Through Creating Questions'We Become Who People Say We AreCheck out Shanna's websiteShanna Peeples: PresentationsDraft Protocol for Generating Students’ Authentic Questions50 Great Teachers: Socrates, The Ancient World's Teaching SuperstarFollow @ShannaPeeples on TwitterFollow Shanna Peeples on FacebookFollow @slpeeple on InstagramDogfooding: How Often Do You Do Your Own Assignments by Cult of PedagogyBig Thinkers: Judy Willis on the Science of Learning, EdutopiaThe Heart of Philosophy by Jacob NeedlemanThe Ten Great Questions of the Heart by Jacob NeedlemanThe Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life by Parker Palmer
Teaching Channel Resources:Strategies for Student-Centered Discussion

Socratic Seminar Videos

Scaffolding for Socratic SeminarSocratic Seminars: Patience & PracticeSocratic Seminar: The "N-Word"Socratic Seminar: Supporting Claims and Counterclaims

Inquiry Videos

Inquiry-Based DiscussionInquiry-Based Teaching: The Inquiry ApproachA Teacher's Role In InquiryInquiry-Based Teaching: Powerful IdeasInquiry-Based Teaching: Building a Culture of RespectInquiry-Based Teaching: Discussing LiteratureInquiry-Based Teaching: Encouraging Student VoiceInquiry-Based Teaching: Asking Effective Questions

Questioning Videos

Structure Learning with Essential QuestionsHigher-Order Questions: A Path to Deeper Learning

Tchers' Voice Blog Posts

Never Easy, But Essential: Tough Conversations in the ClassroomTch Tips: Engaging Students in Socratic SeminarsNew At Tch Video Lounge: Personalized Learning and Socratic SeminarVideo Playlist: Eight Ways to Engage Your ELLsDesign Thinking, Empathy, and EquityDesign Thinking, Empathy, and Equity – Part 2