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The Best Class You Never Taught: How Spider Web Discussion Can Turn Students into Learning Leaders
The best classes have a life of their own, powered by student-led conversations that explore texts, ideas, and essential questions. In these classes, the teacher's role shifts from star player to observer and coach as the students The Spider Web Discussion is a simple technique that puts this kind of class within every teacher's reach. The name comes from the weblike diagram the observer makes to record interactions as students actively participate in the discussion, lead and support one another's learning, and build community. It's proven to work across all subject areas and with all ages, and you only need a little know-how, a rubric, and paper and pencil to get started. As students practice Spider Web Discussion, they become stronger communicators, more empathetic teammates, better problem solvers, and more independent learners—college and career ready skills that serve them well in the classroom and beyond. Educator Alexis Wiggins provides a step-by-step guide for the implementation of Spider Web Discussion, covering everything from introducing the technique to creating rubrics for discussion self-assessment to the nuts-and-bolts of charting the conversations and using the data collected for formative assessment. She also shares troubleshooting tips, ideas for assessment and group grading, and the experiences of real teachers and students who use the technique to develop and share content knowledge in a way that's both revolutionary and truly inspiring.
160 pages, Paperback
Published September 27, 2017
9 people are currently reading
111 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 6, 2022
I have experimented with a few classroom conversation formats for years now: TQE, fishbowl, Socratic, Harkness... I liked what I've done, but I know that it could be more strategic and intentional.
This is the best book that I have read for a clear, consistent method for classroom conversations, and I see an easy overlap with other approaches like Kate Robert's A Novel Approach and Sarah Zerwin's Point-less. Thank god for teachers that are smarter than I am and who are able to better articulate what I've been trying to do.
This is the best book that I have read for a clear, consistent method for classroom conversations, and I see an easy overlap with other approaches like Kate Robert's A Novel Approach and Sarah Zerwin's Point-less. Thank god for teachers that are smarter than I am and who are able to better articulate what I've been trying to do.
January 11, 2018
I was ready, able, and excited to try this method the day after finishing this book!
November 13, 2021
One of my goals this year is to get better at student discussions in my classes. I’m really excited to try this method. If it works as well as she says it does, I’ll change my review to 5 stars.
January 27, 2019
This is the second time I've read this book and I think the first time I flew through this much too quickly.
I begin my class with 10-15 minutes of reading each day; for now, this is only quick articles about recent events either in the local community or nationally. Ultimately, however, this allows for practice with conversations on "lower stakes" items before diving into discussing math related texts/content.
The book is rather self-explanatory and has teachers implement a web-style tracking for the classroom discussion. What is most transformative with regard to the Spider Web Discussion is how students are able to, if given the opportunity, reflect on what their experiences as an aim to improve the quality of their conversations. It can be really eye-opening to have students not just see the flow or progression of the conversation, but to think about and articulate their feelings on why they spoke so much or their peers so little.
Early on, the struggle I still find when trying to implement this with fidelity is how to overcome the overachieving students who wish to dominate the conversation because either (1) the topic/article/content is so interesting or (2) they are trying to ensure that I know they spoke even if what they provide is little more than agreement or a repeat of what another student has said.
Developing codes and symbols that are unique to my classroom for "side conversations" or "questioning" was helpful in some ways. Such small tweaks allow me to reflect later about not just who spoke in class but also the timing of when students speak and looking more intently at the demographics of the students who are and are not sharing or engaging in the discussion. How often are females speaking? Males? Students of color? Who usually speaks after who? Does one student question another more often than not?
One strategy I have had to implement is to "mute" students. This is a sign to the class and the student that they have contributed a fair amount and are dominating the space in a manner that is more controlling than inviting to other students.
Overall, for any teacher of any discipline who wishes to improve and increase discussions in their content, I recommend this book.
I begin my class with 10-15 minutes of reading each day; for now, this is only quick articles about recent events either in the local community or nationally. Ultimately, however, this allows for practice with conversations on "lower stakes" items before diving into discussing math related texts/content.
The book is rather self-explanatory and has teachers implement a web-style tracking for the classroom discussion. What is most transformative with regard to the Spider Web Discussion is how students are able to, if given the opportunity, reflect on what their experiences as an aim to improve the quality of their conversations. It can be really eye-opening to have students not just see the flow or progression of the conversation, but to think about and articulate their feelings on why they spoke so much or their peers so little.
Early on, the struggle I still find when trying to implement this with fidelity is how to overcome the overachieving students who wish to dominate the conversation because either (1) the topic/article/content is so interesting or (2) they are trying to ensure that I know they spoke even if what they provide is little more than agreement or a repeat of what another student has said.
Developing codes and symbols that are unique to my classroom for "side conversations" or "questioning" was helpful in some ways. Such small tweaks allow me to reflect later about not just who spoke in class but also the timing of when students speak and looking more intently at the demographics of the students who are and are not sharing or engaging in the discussion. How often are females speaking? Males? Students of color? Who usually speaks after who? Does one student question another more often than not?
One strategy I have had to implement is to "mute" students. This is a sign to the class and the student that they have contributed a fair amount and are dominating the space in a manner that is more controlling than inviting to other students.
Overall, for any teacher of any discipline who wishes to improve and increase discussions in their content, I recommend this book.
January 12, 2019
Excellent strategy and tangential advice. Instructs not a strong classroom structure but also encourages the right attitude and philosophy of kindness that facilitates such a strong technique. I've been using the Spider Web Discussion this first week of my semester at Norfolk State University with my freshmen and they are LOVING it, and so am I! Recommended by my previous school's instructional specialist, I highly recommend every teacher pick this up!
June 24, 2018
Most contemporary education books are tedious reads. This book was actually enjoyable. I’m really excited to integrate this with Rothstein’s Question Formulation Technique this upcoming year in my 9th grade American Literature class.
May 18, 2019
I really like the spider web method, and as a student teacher reading this book and applying it to my classroom has really helped me step up the quality of my classroom discussions. I highly recommend this book to other teachers, especially secondary level in basically any subject.
December 31, 2019
Excellent and thorough, this book has many tips for excellent all-class discussions, K-12. I especially appreciated the "mapping" of who talks and what they say that leads to a spider web graphic students can use to assign a group grade and set action steps for doing better the next time.
October 14, 2017
The first education book in a while that makes me want to implement its ideas in my next class.
July 23, 2019
I loved the focus on the 4 C's: Creativity, Critical Thinking, Collaboration, and Communication. And the focus on empathy and kindness.
April 26, 2025
Early on this book I felt a very strong connection to Spider Web Discussion. I was given this book for free during Student Teaching, and more than anything, wish I had been given this book sooner to have implemented it in my placement.
As a future Social Studies Educator I want to strive to instill values of empathy and critical thinking in my students, and I've seem to have found it in an unlikely place, perhaps even in, The Best Class I've Never Taught (ba dum tss)
I'm hoping to get a job this upcoming school year, and want to implement this from day one, I'm excited to see where it goes.
As a future Social Studies Educator I want to strive to instill values of empathy and critical thinking in my students, and I've seem to have found it in an unlikely place, perhaps even in, The Best Class I've Never Taught (ba dum tss)
I'm hoping to get a job this upcoming school year, and want to implement this from day one, I'm excited to see where it goes.
June 26, 2019
Fantastic for older students and for classrooms interested in allowing students to do the learning with minimal teacher disruptions and/or lectures. Difficult to implement for diverse/challenging/large classrooms because there is minimal teacher directives and great potential for students to become off track.
A good read and an intriguing idea. Many advanced applications and research based ideas in this strategy.
A good read and an intriguing idea. Many advanced applications and research based ideas in this strategy.
June 5, 2024
I think I was expecting this to be more complicated. I was ready to write here that there is a lot of “filler� in this book, but thats a cynical. There are healthy portions of literature review in each chapter (which I routinely skipped) as well as personal reflections, voices of other teachers as case studies, and “advanced applications.� I took note of the core concepts (rubrics, coding systems, etc.) and will apply them SY24-25.
August 25, 2022
The spiderweb discussion process sounds amazing, and I intend to implement it in my classes this year. This book is an excellent resource for doing so.
For me, however, I don't need to be sold the idea that this method, if it works as described, will yield highly positive results. Since this is the case, there are a lot more words in this book than there need to be.
For me, however, I don't need to be sold the idea that this method, if it works as described, will yield highly positive results. Since this is the case, there are a lot more words in this book than there need to be.
June 13, 2022
This is really interesting. I'm comfortable with ensuring small group academic conversations occur in classrooms, but this is the first I could envision large group academic conversations, lead by students.
October 3, 2017
Offers some interesting ideas for structuring class discussions. Rubrics, codes, and outlines are offered within the text.
June 18, 2021
This would be an interesting professional development topic. Focus on choosing discussion topics customized for the class.
September 20, 2021
This is an excellent classroom philosophy and strategy...I will be implementing SWD in my classes and encouraging others to do so!
October 4, 2021
I’ve been teaching for 10 years and I have my doctorate in education. I just had my best three class discussions of my career. This works.
November 6, 2021
Really helpful and practical!
August 19, 2023
I’m looking forward to trying out some of the strategies. Quick and easy read with realistic examples.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
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