Resources

Tools for the thinking classroom

Guides, frameworks, and curricula for educators bringing classical discussion methods into their courses. Practical wisdom for the seminar table.

Getting Started

Guide25 min read

The Socratic Seminar: A Complete Guide

Everything you need to run your first Socratic seminar — from selecting texts to managing discussion dynamics. A practical, step-by-step framework.

Guide15 min read

Choosing Texts for Discussion

How to select passages that provoke genuine inquiry — rich enough to sustain discussion, focused enough to keep it grounded.

Framework12 min read

Setting Norms for Classical Dialogue

Creating a classroom culture where students argue ideas, not each other. Practical norms that make intellectual risk-taking safe.

Facilitation

Guide18 min read

The Art of the Follow-Up Question

The single most important skill in seminar facilitation. How to use Socratic questioning to deepen student thinking without leading them to predetermined answers.

Framework20 min read

Navigating Difficult Conversations

When classical texts touch on race, gender, power, and injustice — how to facilitate honest conversation without retreating to either avoidance or ideology.

Rubric14 min read

Assessment Without Killing Discussion

Rubrics, reflection protocols, and participation frameworks that hold students accountable without turning dialogue into performance.

Curriculum

Curriculum40 min read

A Year of Great Books: Sample Curriculum

A complete 30-week curriculum for a Great Books seminar course, with reading schedules, discussion prompts, and writing assignments.

Guide16 min read

Pairing Ancient and Modern Texts

How to create productive dialogues between classical and contemporary authors — Plato with Ta-Nehisi Coates, Augustine with James Baldwin.

Collection30 min read

Discussion Prompts: 50 Great Questions

A curated collection of discussion questions organized by text and theme — ready to use or adapt for your seminar.

From the Blog

Quick reads

Why Lecturing Isn't Enough

The research is clear: students learn more through discussion than through passive listening. Here's what the data says — and what it means for your classroom.

The Difference Between Discussion and Debate

Debate has winners and losers. Discussion has participants and insights. Understanding this distinction transforms how students engage with ideas.

Slow Reading in a Fast World

In an age of scanning and skimming, the Socratic seminar teaches students to read with the care and attention great texts deserve.

From Wix to Dialogue

How the Institute for Classical Dialogue went from a basic website to a purpose-built platform for the kind of learning we believe in.

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