Social Studies: Leading a discussion – TeachingWorks Resource Library

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Cycle 1

In this learning cycle, novice teachers learn to lead group discussions in social studies through studying, preparing for, enacting, and reflecting upon discussions. The materials put a particular emphasis on discussions of public issues and advancing justice through group discussion.

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Adapted from:
McDonald, Kazemi, and Kavanagh, 2013; Lampert et al., 2013;
Teacher Education by Design

Introduce

Novice teachers familiarize themselves with a framework for discussion in social studies, participate in a discussion about a public issue, and study video of classroom discussion.

Prepare

Novice teachers study lesson plans for public issues discussions then prepare their own discussion and workshop their materials with peers. They also prepare questions that can spark discussion.

Enact

Novices rehearse discussion with their peers and with the guidance of a teacher educator before teaching their public issues exploration in a classroom with K-12 students.

Analyze

Novices study quality reflections then analyze the discussion they led by viewing video of their teaching with peers and engaging in personal reflection using the discussion framework as a guide.

Activity 1

C3 investigation

Activity 1

This activity introduces novices to the C3 Framework for Social Studies to familiarize them with the goals of discussion and learning in social studies.

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Activity 2

Public Issues Exploration

Activity 2

In this activity novices participate in a Public Issues Exploration (PIE) as students. They study sources then debate the question “Should Civil War monuments remain or be removed?”

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Activity 3

Analyzing discussion videos

Activity 3

This activity has novices watch video of discussion with an eye to how teachers can advance justice and fulfill ethical obligations through their discussion facilitation.

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Tool

Leading a discussion in Social Studies

Tool

Decomposition

Tool

This chart decomposes discussion and provides specific examples of what novice teachers might do to lead quality discussions.

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Tool

Representation of leading a discussion

Tool

This diagram portrays recent research-based thinking about the components of quality discussions in social studies. Use this diagram to deepen novices understanding of the work of facilitating a discussion.

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Activity 4

What makes a good Public Issue Exploration?

Activity 4

In this activity, novices study Public Issues Explorations taught by previous novice teachers. They look at lesson plans and rubrics in order to understand what previous novices have done well.

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Activity 5

Analyzing a transcript

Activity 5

In this activity novices study a transcript of a discussion comparing two maps of Michigan to identify different areas of work involved in facilitating a discussion.

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Activity 6

Preparing prompts

Activity 6

This activity helps novices to generate questions that would help students engage in the areas of work and ethical considerations outlined by the social studies discussion framework.

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Activity 7

Discussion materials workshop

Activity 7

In this activity, novices bring materials for their Public Issues Exploration (PIE) and share them with classmates – and preferably a teacher educator – for comment and feedback.

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Activity 8

Observing a live discussion

Activity 8

This activity has novices observe a discussion in a classroom and talk to the teacher after the discussion in order to learn about the teacher’s in-the-moment decision-making.

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Activity 9

Rehearsing discussion

Activity 9

In this rehearsal, novices take on the role of students as other novice teachers lead a group discussion and receive feedback on their attempts to do so.

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Activity 10

Field assignment

Activity 10

This field assignment is intended to give novices an experience leading a lesson – or series of lessons – that engage students in thinking about, discussing, and taking action on public issues.

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Activity 11

What makes a good reflection?

Activity 11

This activity provides examples of reflections on Public Issues Explorations from past novices so that novices have models of what their reflections might look like.

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Activity 12

Reflection on public issues exploration

Activity 12

This activity will help novices prepare to discuss their lesson with their mentors teachers or field instructors, as time spent reflecting before these discussions leads to greater learning.

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Activity 13

Partner video analysis

Activity 13

This activity is designed to help novices analyze their discussion facilitation and provide feedback to their colleagues. It will also build a culture of feedback and improvement.

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Activity 14

Field assignment

Activity 14

The second half of the field assignment has novices analyze their strengths and weaknesses and identify concrete next steps in learning to lead a group discussion.

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