Where Ideas Wander: Socratic Seminar Discussion Cards - Exploring Author's Craft

Bring the art of meaningful conversation into your literacy block!

Guide meaningful dialogue about author’s craft with 33 Socratic Seminar Discussion Cards! Explore word choice, structure, voice, and theme through authentic conversation. Includes full Teacher Guide and K–6 Alberta Curriculum alignment.

Where Ideas Wander: Socratic Seminar Discussion Cards invite students to think deeply about how authors craft meaning, emotion, and voice in their writing. Rooted in Socratic questioning, these cards transform classroom discussions into opportunities for interpretation, reasoning, and reflection.

With 33 cards organized into eight craft-based themes — Word Choice, Structure, Voice, Figurative Language, Theme, Character, Setting, and Writer’s Lens — this resource helps students engage in evidence-based discussion while strengthening comprehension and writing craft.

Perfect for:

• Socratic Seminars, Guided Reading, Literature Circles, and Writing Workshops
• Grades 2–6 (adaptable for oral language discussions in K–1)
• Building skills in speaking, listening, interpreting, and analyzing author’s techniques

Includes:

• 33 full-colour, discussion-ready cards
• Teacher Goose Guide (How to Use, Differentiation, Tips for Success, Alberta K–6 Curriculum Alignment)
• Grade-banded progression chart for Emerging, Developing, and Extending learners

Help your students move from reading for meaning to thinking like authors — one authentic discussion at a time.