Megacognition Number One

When I was participating in my socratic circle I found that my group in general was very abrupt about getting their opinions out. They all had a lot to say and wanted to say it quickly. I found it a little bit difficult to express my opinion at first because I didn't want to interrupt others, but was slightly frustrated when I did not get a chance to talk for what felt like half the circle- until others ran out of steam. Then, when I was able to get a chance to talk, some of the subjects that I wanted to discuss had already been acknowledged and passed over. Nontheless at this point I did manage to contribute to the conversation, and I began to enjoy the circle more than I did in the beginning. The discussion began to feel more casual with more even contribution from most members, but it was still focused. I enjoyed listening to other people's take on the paragraph, because at first I thought it was a good piece of writing but with other people's insights I discovered that there were a few more flaws with the paragraph than I had originally picked out. I would not have seen them without the circle. It was my first time doing a socratic circle, and I enjoyed it more than I normally enjoy group work, because of how structured it was.
I believe that my role in the socratic circle was intermediate. I felt that I was not a leader, a follower, an inspiration, or a burden. I felt pretty average. I believe that I contributed a few good points, and according to feedback I talked a fair amount, not as much as some but enough to make me a worthwhile member of the group. One of my weaknesses when I am working in groups, especially in front of extra people, is that I get embarassed and flustered and I am not able to articulate my thoughts in a coherent way. The next time I am in a socratic cirlce I should plan out what I'm going to say before I say it, however this is not always possible when you are on the spot, working off of what others have said before me.