What’s that? Do we have to write in complete sentences? Is this going to be on the test? Where is [classmate] going? Do any of these questions sound familiar? I’m pretty sure they do!
Most teachers get asked a thousand questions a day. Okay, I’m exaggerating. But honestly, I remember days when all I wished for was an instant replay button—especially on days when special events were in the works.
Let’s have some fun with kid-asked questions! Which questions do you hear over and over again? How do you encourage thoughtful questions and discourage the kinds of questions that can drive a teacher batty?
Smiles,
Diane
It is our every day routine to take my Pre-K class to the bathroom to wash up for snack time right after morning group. However, it never fails to hear one of my students ask, “Where are we going?” or “Why are we going to the bathroom?” or “When is it going to be snack time?” Most of the time I try to “head them off at the pass” by going over the daily routine each morning then ask them questions about what happens after each event. When a child forgets, I have them try to think about what we have done and what might come next.
Sixth graders who continue to ask “What time is this class over?”
“Do we have school tomorrow?”…Usually asked on a
Tuesday!
The funniest question that I’ll never forget got started when I had to break up a fight between two four year old boys that had me finally answer the question, “Do girls really have eyes in the back of their heads?”
I could hardly keep a straight face when I answered,”You’ll have to ask your mommy, just know that most of us know what you’re up to whether we can see you or not.” LOL :}
We do groups everyday in my class (and always at the end of the day 2:00)! It never fails, my second graders constantly ask: “Are we having groups today?” or “When is groups?” I just laugh!
Is it snack yet? Is it time to go home? What zone am I in? But my favorite all time one has to be from a girl from last years class – we had just finished snack, cleaned up, put our coats on and were heading down the hall to the door to go to the playground – When are we going outside? My assistant and I almost bust a gut laughing that day! But I try to explain where we are in the day what is happening next – we do a zone rotation so on the last rotation I tell them after this one, or the next time I flick the lights it will be time to clean up and get ready for snack time. I also keep a picture schedule of the day and move a little moose or apple or whatever is the theme or season to show where we are in the day and they can see what is coming next!
1st graders ask a lot of questions.
“What do I do now?” There is always that one that didn’t listen.
“Where does this go?” Same place its gone all year.
Can I go potty?? Is it snack time? Are we going outside today? ( what makes me laugh about that one is that it’s been raining cats and dogs here)
When is it snack time? is a common one in my preschool class, as is Can we go play? I have a visual schedule up behind me in our reading area, so when they ask, I show them what we are doing and what comes next. That usually helps!
I teach 1st grade and I am amazed that we can be lining up with our lunchboxes and going to wash our hands and kids will say where are we going?
Just today I told my first graders to put the phonics paper we were working on in their desks and line up for PE. One little boy who really never listens said, “Where are we going to PE?” I asked him to think about what I had just said.
I teach preschool I have a child ask the best things everyday such as what if we have 18 fingers? What if we all had no hair? What happens if a catches a hole in it? My favorite yet what if we had 100 dogs on the class room every day? It makes for some very fun conversation
I teach preschoolers 2 and 3 year olds. I receive questions like. Can I go potty? Where is my mommy? I want my mommy now? Sometines I respond: Can you go potty? They look at me puzzled. And I say I want my mommy too. They began to laugh. Than we just start all over again. Sometimes with the same question. And sometimes with different comments. I think it’s awesome to hear the way they try to talk in sentences. It brings us all together as one learning and having FUN!
Elizabeth
I teach first grade and I get “Do we have to write our name?”
Nathan: “May I blow my nose, Teacher?” Snot was hanging down below his upper lip!
I told the kids they may get up and get a tissue and blow their nose any time they need to!
I teach Special Education K-3 and one of my little ones asks every day all day long “Are you happy?” She also just learned to ask WH Questions so now after everything you say she says Who. She is now our OWL of our class! 🙂