The Teacher’s Guide to Leading Student-Centered Discussions: Talking About Texts in the Classroom

Facilitate dynamic classroom discussions that motivate students and deepen their understanding!

There are two reasons why this book is so important now. The first is the vitality of the subject: true classroom dialogue may be our only hope for helping students become thoughtful citizens. The second is that the authors practice what they preach. They assume from the first page that teachers are thoughtful professionals capable of making the subtle decisions discussed. The result is a book that should lie open on the desk of any teacher who is truly interested in teaching students to think.

-Terry Roberts, Director National Paideia Center

I loved the case stories of classroom discussions that illustrated the authors’ points.

-Kimberly C. Smith, Advanced Math Teacher/Math Department Chair
Welborn Middle School, High Point, NC

Practical and beneficial to teaching and learning in today’s world.

-Sylvia Jackson, Principal
Adolfo Camarillo High School, CA

Engage and enlighten students by skillfully guiding them through thought-provoking classroom discussions using these straightforward strategies. Aligned with the principles of Paideia and Socratic seminars, and packed with real-life examples, this teacher-friendly resource highlights the fundamentals of planning for text-based discourse, the four key factors that shape the teacher’s decision-making during discussions, and tips for problem-solving and fine-tuning facilitation skills.