Some schools I work with have Talk Pledges such as We will ask questions to help us learn. We know that students who ask questions, of themselves and others, are successful learners. But do we create enough genuine opportunities for questioning?
Often we say things like, Any questions…? but then move on quickly. Our students feel that we don’t really want or expect them to ask anything.
Try saying: Some questions.
Then pause.
This is completely different. Our students are now clear that we expect them to ask something. That we want them to.
Ways to keep everyone engaged and develop the community of enquiry
What will happen when you remove the fear of being wrong?
Pupil voice about whole-class talk in Reading lessons
Using an unexpected event as a P4C stimulus
The final instalment of my tips for making online sessions more engaging
Pupils tell us why they think their peers don’t raise their hands
An example of raising engagement in learning using the power of open questions.