Socratic Circles in the Classroom: How to Use Conflict to Increase Student Engagement

For teachers and leaders in education, we have big questions to contend with, such as: How do I best serve students as an instructor given that their needs, experiences, and expectations have changed from when I was in school? Where am I at in my capacity to provide new and different learning experiences? How does a student’s sense of identity inform how they engage learning and can I be with them in the “becoming” process as a learning partner?

Creating a learning environment with these questions in mind invites us to open the door to necessary conflict. Why conflict? Traditional approaches to creating learning experiences do not highlight students’ identities, interests, or perspectives, nor do they equip us as educators to effectively incorporate these valuable aspects of students’ knowledge into our teaching. Conflict and the challenging conversations that come with it push the boundaries of our collective knowledge and make space for creative newness to emerge.

The Socratic Circle Approach: Conflict as a Catalyst for Engagement

I work as an intersectional racial equity consultant focused on systems transformation with K-12 schools and colleges across the country. Currently, I am supporting educators and coaches in “Community Socratic Circles to Build Teacher Capacity for Culturally Responsive Teaching,” a project of the Center for Inclusive Innovation. In this community of educators, we work to create a learning space where students can fully be themselves and collaborate with educators to enhance engagement and broaden learning opportunities.

Socratic Circles, student-led and centered discussions focused on a text or essential questions, are particularly suited for this purpose. This instructional method invites students to bring their whole selves to the table, pairing academic rigor with critical discourse. Through Socratic Circles, students engage in deep, provocative discussions that challenge and expand their perspectives. This approach—combining reading and writing with meaningful student-led dialogue—supports literacy development and equitable access to rigorous engagement by allowing students to connect personally with the material.

Creating Spaces for Conflict and Growth: Tips for Educators

• Build Safe Spaces: If we want rigorous engagement for our students, we need to be positioned to hold spaces that are spiritually, psychologically, and physically safe for them. Creating this kind of environment requires deliberate practice in facilitating conversations where conflict is present so we may skillfully navigate the waters we invite students to enter.
• Prevent Burnout: Transformative work requires stamina, creativity, and space. Rather than relying solely on self-care rituals rooted in patterns of consumption, create a daily routine that carves out time for joy and gratitude. Regularly taking time for rest, reflection, and simply being is crucial in staying grounded and engaged in this work.
• Build Trust for Courageous Conversations: By working with students to establish trust, educators can help students feel prepared to engage openly in challenging conversations. This trust enables deeper connections and meaningful engagement.

For those on a journey toward liberatory pedagogy, the path to creating authentic engagement with students starts with us. As educators, we must model the practices we wish to see: prioritizing rest, creating joy, being open, and engaging fully in the process of learning. By positioning ourselves as fellow travelers on this journey, we amplify opportunities for connection and learning that go beyond the traditional classroom.

Want to learn more about the Socratic Circles scale-up project? Read this blog from an instructional coach in the program.