Socratic Teaching Scaffolds

Table of Contents

1. Workflow
2. Socratic Question Types
3. Scaffolding Levels
4. Common Patterns
5. Guardrails
6. Quick Reference

Core components:

1. Question Ladders: Sequences from simple to complex that build understanding incrementally
2. Misconception Detectors: Questions that reveal faulty mental models through contradiction
3. Feynman Explanations: Build-up from simple analogies to technical precision
4. Worked Examples with Fading: Full solutions → partial solutions → independent practice
5. Cognitive Apprenticeship: Model thinking process explicitly, then transfer to learner

Quick example (Teaching Recursion):