Abstract
This chapter describes how Socratic circles, a dialogic tool that is shown to increase learning talk, can engage English learners (ELs) in historical discussion following inquiry methods of learning in the social studies. Drawing on the related literature, we provide educators with a background about cultural competency and positionalities, historical inquiry, and Socratic circles. Evidence-based examples and strategies are then provided for using historical inquiry and Socratic circles in the social studies classroom to teach important yet difficult concepts (e.g., democracy, liberty) and connect them to content-based curricula. We conclude by connecting dialogue to the C3 frameworks to foster ELs’ civic participation, involvement, and agency and discuss implications and applications for teacher education.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alexander, R. (2008). Rethinking classroom talk (4th ed.). North Yorkshire, UK: Dialogos.
Applebee, A., Langer, J., Nystrand, M., & Gamoran, A. (2003). Discussion-based approaches to developing understanding: Classroom instruction and student performance in middle and high school English. American Educational Research Journal, 40(3), 685–730.
Arden-Close, C. (1999). Conflict of learning styles: University science lectures in the Sultanate of Oman. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 8(4), 323–332.
Barton, K. C. (2009). The denial of desire: How to make history education meaningless. In L. Symcox & A. Wilschut (Eds.), National history standards: The problem of the canon and the future of teaching history (pp. 265–282). Charlotte, NC: Information Age.
Barton, K. C., & Levstik, L. S. (2004). Teaching history for the common good. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Byram, M., Nichols, A., & Stevens, D. (2001). Developing intercultural competence in practice. Tonawanda, NY: Multilingual Matters.
Caughlan, S., Juzwik, M., Borsheim-Black, C., Kelly, S. P., & Fine, J. G. (2013). English teacher candidates developing dialogically organized instructional practices. Research in the Teaching of English, 47(3), 212–246.
Chamot, A. U. (2009). The CALLA handbook: Implementing the cognitive academic language learning approach. White Plains, NY: Pearson Education.
Choi, Y. (2013). Teaching social studies for newcomer English language learners: Toward culturally relevant pedagogy. Multicultural Perspectives, 15(1), 12–18.
Cruz, B. C., & Thornton, S. J. (2013). Teaching social studies to English language learners. New York: Routledge.
Davies, B., & Harré, R. (1990). Positioning: The discursive production of selves. Journal for the Theory of Social Behavior, 20(1), 43–63.
Foster, S. J., & Padgett, C. S. (1999). Authentic historical inquiry in the social studies classroom. The Clearing House, 72(6), 357–363.
Fránquiz, M. E., & Salinas, C. S. (2011). Newcomers developing English literacy through historical thinking and digitized primary sources. Journal of Second Language Writing, 20(3), 196–210.
Haynes, J. (2007). Getting started with English language learners: How educators can meet the challenge. Alexandria, VA: ASCD Publications.
Hughes, R. (2006). Turn-taking awareness: Benefits for teaching speaking skills in academic and other contexts. In E. Uso-Juan & A. Martinez-Flor (Eds.), Current trends in the development and teaching of the four language skills (pp. 215–234). Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter.
Juzwik, M. M., Borsheim-Black, C., Caughlan, S., & Heintz, A. (2013). Inspiring dialogue: Talking to learn in the English classroom. New York: Teachers College Press.
Kayi-Aydar, H. (2014). Social positioning, participation, and second language learning: Talkative students in an academic ESL classroom. TESOL Quarterly, 48(4), 686–714.
Kayi-Aydar, H. (Forthcoming). “If Carmen can analyze Shakespeare, everybody can”: Positions, conflicts, and negotiations in the narratives of Latina pre-service teachers. Journal of Language, Identity, and Education.
Krashen, S. D. (1985). The input hypothesis: Issues and implications. London/New York: Longman Ltd.
Lantolf, J. P. (2000). Sociocultural theory and second language learning. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Long, M. H. (1996). The role of the linguistic environment in second language acquisition. In W. C. Ritchie & T. K. Bahtia (Eds.), Handbook of second language acquisition (pp. 413–468). New York: Academic Press.
Miller, J. M. (2000). Language use, identity, and social interaction: Migrant students in Australia. Research on Language and Social Interaction, 33(1), 69–100.
Murphy, P. K., Wilkinson, I. A., Soter, A. O., Hennessey, M. N., & Alexander, J. F. (2009). Examining the effects of classroom discussion on students’ comprehension of text: A meta-analysis. Journal of Educational Psychology, 101(3), 740–764.
National Council for the Social Studies. (2013). The college, career, and civic life (C3) framework for social studies state standards: Guidance for enhancing the rigor of K-12 civics, economics, geography, and history. Silver Spring, MD: National Council for the Social Studies.
Nystrand, M., Gamoran, A., Kachur, R., & Prendergast, C. (1997). Opening dialogue: Understanding the dynamics of language and learning in the English classroom. New York: Teachers College Press.
Oxford, R. L., & Anderson, N. J. (1995). A crosscultural view of learning styles. Language Teaching, 28(04), 201–215.
Parker, W. (2003). Teaching democracy: Unity and diversity in public life. New York: Teachers College Press.
Rao, Z. (1996). Reconciling communicative approaches to the teaching of English with traditional Chinese methods. Research in the Teaching of English, 30, 458–471.
Salinas, C., Fránquiz, M. E., & Guberman, S. (2006). Introducing historical thinking to second language learners: Exploring what students know and what they want to know. The Social Studies, 97(5), 203–207.
Seixas, P. (1993). Historical understanding among adolescents in a multicultural setting. Curriculum Inquiry, 23(3), 301–327.
Silverman, R., & Hines, S. (2009). The effects of multimedia-enhanced instruction on the vocabulary of English-language learners and non-English-language learners in pre-kindergarten through second grade. Journal of Educational Psychology, 101(2), 305.
VanSledright, B. (2001). From empathetic regard to self-understanding: Im/positionality, empathy, and historical contextualization. In O. Davis, E. Yeager, & S. Foster (Eds.), Historical empathy and perspective taking in the social studies (pp. 51–68). New York: Rowman and Littlefield.
Wood, D., Bruner, J. S., & Ross, G. (1976). The role of tutoring in problem solving. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 17(2), 89–100.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kayi-Aydar, H., Endacott, J.L., Goering, C.Z. (2018). Using Socratic Circles to Engage English Language Learners in Historical Inquiry and Discussion. In: de Oliveira, L., Obenchain, K. (eds) Teaching History and Social Studies to English Language Learners. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63736-5_7
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63736-5_7
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-63735-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-63736-5
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)