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A Seminar at Home

Three short lessons on running a real discussion of a good text at a dinner table: one open question, everyone points to the text, and roles that keep any one voice from taking over.

For grown-ups, from what SeminarQuest teaches children at Spark & Anvil.

  1. Lesson 1One open question
  2. Lesson 2Point to the text
  3. Lesson 3Roles that share the air
At the table · three to six people, 10 or older

A twenty-minute seminar

You'll need: a short text everyone can read (a poem, a fable, a news article) and a pencil each.

  1. Read the text aloud once, then silently. Everyone marks one line.
  2. The Opener asks one open question. Every answer points to a line.
  3. The Tracker tallies who speaks; the Steel-manner restates one view they disagree with.
  4. The Closer asks: what do you think now that you did not before?

Print the guidebook (all lessons + the table activity) →