My role in the studio is to be a Socratic guide, not a teacher. I love to illustrate this point by telling people, “It’s in my contract that I can’t answer questions!” As a result, this year I have spent a lot of time asking (and analyzing) my questions. If there was a P.h.D in inquiry, I’m ready for my dissertation.
Here are what I consider the most common types of questions:
Predetermined: This is a statement posed as a question. You are asking someone but in reality, telling them what to do. It is often fully illustrated with voice emphasis. Examples- “Do you think that is a good idea?” “Is that a safety concern?”
Fun aside. Heard in the studio this week from a Hero, “Are you talking or are you working?”
2 concrete choices: This one has determined outcomes, but there is still choice. It can be extremely helpful when a hero is overwhelmed or unfocused. Choices like, “Would you like to put on your coat or pack up your backpack?” or “What will you work on next- Khan or Lexia?”
Evaluating: This question is the mainstay of discussions. It asks someone to compile the information learned and create an opinion. For example, “At its peak, what would have been the greatest aspect of living as a Roman? The brilliant minds innovating all around you, the mighty military that protected you, a government that was ethical and cared about you and your wishes, or the rest of the world wanting to join your culture, or infrastructure (buildings, roads, bridges, and aqueducts)?” Especially in Civilization, these questions provoke excitement as the stakes are raised. Sometimes, we even use a random number generator to “rewrite history”!
Truly Wondering: These questions stem from authentic curiosity. Often, children (and adults) have brilliant ideas that are packaged into endless stories or run-on, tangent, off-the-mark conclusions. It is easy to jump to the conclusion but I love when a truly wondering question illuminates a new perspective.
Personal: We play a game during the first week of each session. I earn a point if a Hero asks me a question that could be answered through the 3Bs (brain, buddy, blinks) and the Heroes earn points when I answer a question. It is a tough contest with only 7 points being scored this spring, but they always get me with a cheerful, “How are you this morning Ms. Sarah?” To be fair, I think that it is probably an okay question to answer, but a contract is a contract.
Serial Questioning: This series of questions is asked to lead the student down a line of rational thinking. Often it starts very broad and then returns to the original question. It is an excellent way to illustrate your thinking to another person without explicitly stating it. A train of thought could be, “Do you think it is important to keep the environment clean and healthy? What would happen if everyone threw litter on the ground? Do the same rules apply to inside as outside? Would you be unhappy if no one used the trashcan and just left their trash on the floor? Is it okay for you to leave your trash on the floor?”
Answering a question with a question: After all this thought, it turns out that it is fairly easy to answer a question using a question. “Do we have free time before Writer’s Workshop?” Answer- “Does it say that on the schedule?” “Could I use this ruler?” Answer- “Would that be a reasonable thing to do?”
To close, I love this quote from Laura Sandefer in regards to questions, “I am now grateful to be surprised. With surprise comes a sense of wonder, a sense of risk and flying off into the unknown, ready to self-correct when needed.”
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