What do you say to taking chances?

I just finished my second year of teaching, so with everything still as new as can be, my answer to this question has been "LET'S DO IT!" I have experimented with an AVID strategy this year called Socratic Seminar. At first, I was terrified! How was I supposed to relinquish control of a discussion to my 5th graders? What if they didn't talk about what I wanted them to? What if someone said something incorrect?

Wow. I was completely blown away with how a student-controlled discussion could go. Their insights, connections, and ideas far surpassed my expectations. Student engagement was through the roof, and they were able to confidently read, write, listen, and speak. The Socratic Seminars became a theme in my classroom this year. As I got over my fear of the unknown, I became to embrace the messy. No matter where you are in your teaching career, take a deep breath and dive into something new. The results may just surprise you.

I'm certainly no expert on AVID but would highly recommend trying a Socratic Seminar if you have not done so in your classroom. 
http://www.avidweekly.org/assets/pdf/AW-Socratic%20Seminar%20Template%20new.pdf