Before You Run a Socratic Seminar, Teach These 3 Non-Negotiable Discussion Skills
These Google Slides teach students how to build on ideas, disagree respectfully, and invite others into discussions—before you ever open a novel.
If you’ve ever tried discussion and ended up with:
The same 3 students doing all the talking
Awkward silence when you ask a “good question”
Disagreement that turns personal—or disappears entirely
Students who want to participate but don’t know how
…these Google Slides get your class ready and fix the problem before it shows up in your seminar.
The Pre-Socratic Seminar Slideshow is a short, explicit skills program you run before your first seminar. It:
Requires no prior Socratic Seminar experience
Uses world-based and school-based scenarios (not novels)
Is designed for Upper Elementary and Lower Middle School
Can be taught over 1–3 short lessons
Is no prep and ready-to-go!
What Students Learn
By the end of this mini-bootcamp, students can:
Build on a peer’s idea instead of repeating it
Disagree using respectful, structured language
Actively include quieter voices in a discussion
Understand why discussion norms matter
You'll receive:
A Google Slide link (you can then download as PowerPoint if preferred) with 3 explicit mini-lessons
Student-friendly sentence stems for each skill
Guided practice using non-novel scenarios
Built-in reflection prompts
Final setup slides to lead into your first real seminar
Download the Pre-Socratic Seminar Bootcamp SlideShow Now!
Build the discussion skills first—then run seminars with confidence.
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