Speaking and listening skills…where does one begin? We teach this all the time, in every lesson, right? We tend to console ourselves by adopting this mindset to alleviate the need for yet another standard to measure. Reading and writing abilities are undoubtedly the most important in an ELA classroom…aren’t they? I would argue that socializing, holding productive conversations, having civil disagreements, and listening purposefully are equally crucial. Now more than ever, students need direction in these areas. If we continue to brush it off as skills used daily and in every lesson, we are doing a disservice to future generations. This leads me to the “fishbowl discussion.” Like Irving's Old Scratch, it goes by many names. It is known as a Socratic Seminar, Inquiry-Based Teaching, or Debate. I prefer the term ‘Fishbowl’ for this student-led discussion, which fosters diverse perspectives and purposeful listening. Here is ...