The Teacher's Guide to Leading Student-Centered Discussions

Michael S. Hale has served as a teacher, principal, professional developer, professor, university administrator, and educational software executive.  His passion for student inquiry has resulted in many years of experience with participant-centered discussions in a wide variety of settings.   A National Paideia Faculty member, he has worked with many teachers and students to develop the knowledge and skills to engage in idea- and text-based conversations.  He currently spends most of his days as Vice President for Curriculum Consulting with VitalSource Technologies in Raleigh, NC, where he works with educators to transform didactic materials into more interactive digital formats. His formal education includes a B.A. in Philosophy from Auburn University and a M.A. and Ph.D in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of North Carolina. Elizabeth A. City has served as a teacher, principal, and instructional coach, primarily in North Carolina and Massachusetts. In addition to enjoying countless student-centered discussions in her own classroom, as a National Paideia Faculty member, she has worked with teachers and students across the country as they have learned to facilitate and participate in text-based conversations. Much of Liz’s current work centers on supporting principals and teachers in creating collaborative communities where rich dialogue and learning for both adults and children is the norm. She is a member of the Senior Faculty of Boston’s School Leadership Institute, where she teaches courses in using data, learning and teaching, and professional development to Boston Public School Principal Fellows. She is currently working on her doctorate at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

• PrefaceAcknowledgmentsAbout the AuthorsPart I: Getting Started: The "Science" of Leading Discussions1. The Fundamentals of FacilitatingWhy Have Student Centered Discussions?Essential Ingredients of a Student-Centered, Text-based Discussion, aka “Seminar”The Architecture of a DiscussionFrequently Asked Questions and Tips for BeginnersTips for BeginnersReferencesPART II: Becoming a Skillful Facilitator: The “Art and Magic” of Leading Discussions2. SafetyRecognizing Safety IssuesTone of the DiscussionAtmosphere of Safety and RespectCreating a Culture of InquiryThe Danger of SarcasmFeedback During SeminarA Climate of Respect3. Authentic ParticipationRecognizing Authentic Participation IssuesAttention-Seeking ParticipationText-Focused ParticipationReflective ActivityAssessing Pauses in ConversationFacilitator is Not the Focus4. ChallengeRecognizing Challenge IssuesAssessing UnderstandingOff-Topic ConversationRepetitive Ideas and StatementsIdea-HoppingChallenging Ideas5. OwnershipRecognizing Ownership IssuesAvoiding AnarchyFacilitator Releasing ControlStudent-Driven Discussions6. The Seminar Decision-Making ModelSteps of the Decision-Making ProcessIdentifying the IssueIdentifying Possible CausesMatch to Primary FulcrumIdentifying and Applying Possible StrategiesDetermine Effectiveness of Strategy and Next StepsPART III: Improving Student-Centered Discussions7. Strategies for Ongoing Improvement Across All the FulcrumsReflectionSeminar MappingTeaching the Fulcrums to StudentsFishbowlSeminar FoldersVideotapeAssessmentPeer PlanningPeer CoachingCase Study8. Strategies for Improving Specific FulcrumsSafetySeminar Ground RulesAssigned SeatsYellow Card, Red CardEjectionTime-outWrite Before You TalkRole PlayStop and Try AgainBuilding Safety Outside SeminarRole PlayHave Seminars More FrequentlyAsk The StudentsAuthentic ParticipationHeads-Up QuestionPair-ShareRound RobinInviting Quiet People to SpeakReflective WritingFollow-up WritingPositive ReinforcementConnectionsQuestion AgainPair Share/Write During SeminarSilenceMap ConnectionsChallengeWhere in the Text?Ask Follow-Up QuestionsParaphrase and ProbePair-Share/Write during SeminarPre-SeminarChoosing a Different Type of TextGood QuestionsOwnershipRelinquish the ReinsSelf-assessmentWait TimeFavorite Text PhenomenonEye ContactDon’t Be Afraid—DriveTurn-TakingLook Around the CircleResource A – Training GuidesUsing the Fulcrums for Professional DevelopmentWorking with Groups of TeachersNew FacilitatorsExperienced FacilitatorsWorking on Your Own/Working with Individual TeachersIndividual TeachersResource B – ReproduciblesIndex

"Practical and beneficial to teaching and learning in today′s world ...the book provides good strategies for helping teachers facilitate meaningful academic discussions in the classroom setting."