For two years, English teacher Megan Calvillo has had her English classes form Socratic circles to brainstorm what they are studying.

“A Socratic circle is when students sit in a circle to discuss issues raised in what we have been studying in class,” Calvillo said.

The circles are formed at the end of each section on a book the students are reading. The students may ask each other questions or hold discussions about what they are studying.

“They might ask each other why something happened or why the author wrote it a certain way.” Calvillo said. “But the purpose is for the students to teach each other and to hold an intellectual conversation without the teachers help.”

The Socratic circles are held in the library on the second floor.

“The students all sit in a circle to where they are all apart of the conversation and can see each other,” Calvillo said. “In classes of more than 15 or 20 we do two circles.”

A group of students will sit in an inside circle and discuss, while the rest of the students sit in a circle surrounding them to observe.

“Halfway through class we switch so the other students can sit in the inside circle and have their chance to speak,” Calvillo said.

Students are graded on their inputs in the discussions.

“I enjoy the open discussions,” sophomore Jack Buck said. “We discuss what we did in class around other students.”