Ask Me Questions

My teacher was always asking questions instead of giving answers, which led to better discoveries. -Dandar

There is that classic line that a great teacher always answers a question with another question. While we might laugh at remembering that happening to us as kids, we also find that it is true. Our first attempt at any question is really only getting at the surface of the topic.  

Additionally, helping students decide for themselves which path or answer is correct through guidance is a sound strategy for making it stick.  

There is more to it though. The Five Whys, a method made more recently famous by Toyota, asks us to get at the root of a problem by digging a bit deeper. At each “Why” we uncover one more piece of the puzzle and are able to see what may have actually caused the problem or to the beginning of a train of thought.  

As teachers get more comfortable with the transition from “sage on the stage” to “guide on the side,” we will also get better at nudging our students towards the next step in their own thought processes.  

We don’t need to be the source of all wisdom, but we sure need to fan the flames of their curiosity and be their unwavering sidekick in their discovery of all their is to learn in our big beautiful world.  

So don’t be afraid to ask them questions, to push them towards the next discovery. Maybe they can join you on your quest for what is interesting and new as well.