Anonymous wrote:My kid is new to AAP. Had his first socratic seminar. He said about 5 kids dominated the convo. He said he had some ideas he wanted to get out there but every time he tried to open his mouth he was out shouted. The teacher apparently "muted" the loudest couple kids but then the next few loudest kids took over. Out of a class of 27 or 28 kids. They aren't allowed to raise hands. What's the point of this? I'd hoped AAP might be a confidence builder for my shy, quiet kid. Isn't this set up just going to reinforce the roles of the loud dominant kids and the quiet kids who get drowned out? I mean, I get the approach for high schoolers perhaps, but at this phase shouldn't we be using more techniques to teach the kids to respectfully give each other turns to speak and giving openings to quieter kids? Are there more positive experiences with these seminars in elementary schools with large classes?
It was the first time. That's how school works. They introduce something, the kids don't do it well, then they practice and get better, then they do it well.
If they only do things the kids can already do, then no one learns.