Question Everything...
Who, What, Where, Why Why @ School
Great questions to ask and understand...
These start-of-school questions can be written out on index cards—
ask children to write their answers on the other side, perhaps doing one per day during the first week of school.
What helps you feel welcomed?
How do you like to be greeted?
What strengths do you bring to classrooms? The school?
What do you like most about school so far? What would you like to see changed?
QUESTIONS TO DEEPEN RELATIONSHIPS
These settling-in questions can be addressed in similar ways as the start-of-school ones, during the second and third weeks of school.
When do you feel competent? How often?
When do you feel you are being listened to?
When do you feel your voice is respected?
When do you feel cared for and about?
When do you get a chance to be a leader?
When do you feel most safe/unsafe?
When do you laugh at school?
QUESTIONS TO USE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR
Use these questions throughout the school year, followed by supportive discussions, to continue to get to know your students, build their reflection skills, and positively influence their resiliency.
What is your contribution to the school?
Who believes you can succeed?
What happens in school that makes you afraid? Frustrated? Defeated?
When do you feel challenged and supported?
What inspires you in school?
Who helps you bounce back from setbacks?
Who is always happy to speak with you?
When do you feel it’s OK to make a mistake, or show that you don’t know something or how to do something?
Discovering your students’ answers to these questions can help
you create positive conditions for learning.
By Maurice J. Elias
July 30, 2018