We’re learning about maps so I asked my students to show their way home from school. They could choose how they would show their journey. One of my students started drawing…. What did I learn? I know that how we ask children to show what they know is incredibly important and when gathering prior knowledge we can’t assume what a child knows. One of my very quiet 7 year old students started drawing their map.
Can I find the way to my student’s home? YES How did this student know what they know? Would I have discovered what I now know about this student and their thinking if I’d presented my initial question a different way? QUESTIONS!
Cheers Nina
Nina Davis: Teaching & Learning in Australia 
Reblogged this on Nina's Arena-Teaching & Learning in the Australian primary classroom.
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This is interesting Nina. Gathering prior knowledge informs our teaching. Your simple question informed both you and your student’s peers about his / her innate sense of direction and ability to sketch maps. The ‘right’ questions are the key to finding out.
In our room we have 6 empty charts to show thinking and learning as we begin a new unit of inquiry:
What I know about…
What I am learning along the way…
What I have learned…..
I wonder….
My questions….
Students place sticky notes ( write or sketch) on these charts during their learning journey.
Great idea to kick start the inquiry with a good question as you did.
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