If an educator asks as child, "What have you painted?" or "What is that drawing?", often the child will say "I don't know" and that's the end of the conversation.
This is because they might worry that the educator will judge their artwork or that it has to be a certain thing to be of value. Sometimes drawings and paintings can be of random things, they could just be a scribble. A painting does not have to be anything in particular but the child may still have important thoughts on their painting.
Imagine then the possibilities if the educator asks the child "Tell me about your painting?" The answer may not be what the educator expects it to be.
This is the importance of open questions in helping to make children's thinking visible. Open questions are questions that don't expect only one answer or a yes or no answer. They are questions that encourage children (and adults) to think deeper about their answer. Maybe the person answering will be encouraged to give a "why" to their answer or to speak for longer on a topic. It helps children to evaluate their own work.
Examples of open questions to ask children
Here are some questions you could ask children to support shared sustained thinking
Can you tell me about...?
What do you see? What do you think? What do you wonder?
How did you do that?
I wonder why that...?
What do you think might happen when?
What makes you say that?
How do you know that?
Is there another way to?
Does this remind you of anything?
TASK
Next time you're at HEY, try using one of the above open questions at least three times with the children in one day. Write down or voice record the answers.
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