Asking why is the way to wisdom.
~Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake  
​    by Anna Quindlen

Questions I had...

    Why do I have to repeat myself so often?
​    Why can’t they follow directions?
    Why aren’t they checking out books?
    Why don’t they like to read?
    Why won’t they stop playing with each other’s hair?
    Why are they talking when they’re supposed to be listening?
    Why can’t they tell I’m upset and I mean what I say?
    Why won’t they revise their papers?
    Why don’t they turn in their homework on time? ...or at all?
    Why don’t they like me?
    Why do they keep pushing my buttons?
    Why are they late to class?
    Why do they have to take a bathroom break each day in my class?
    Why aren’t they paying attention?
    Why do they ask me questions I’ve already answered?
    Why don’t they care??

"How" Questions that Lead to Productivity

    How can I make a warm-up activity that is engaging AND educational?
    How can I teach vocabulary without asking students to create flash cards?
        Can I find a way for students to choose the words they need to know?
    How can I provide students with more time to express all their thoughts and ideas?
    How can I get rid of all these worksheets but still get the ideas across to students?
    How can I not make a worksheet digital and instead create an interactive activity?
    How can I grade less?
    How can I give a test where students CAN use the resources (text & notes) if they need?
    How can I get students reading more, and how can I hold them accountable?
    How can my students be more active learners in class?
    How can my students be more engaged with the curriculum?
    How can students ask more questions than me?
          Check out -> "The Case for Inquiry"
    How can I empower my students?

Reflection Ideas:

- Consider recording yourself and then using these resources to see where your students are not engaged, words you're using, and where you could grow professionally.
- Gena Mendoza shares more of the value of self-reflection here.

Links in Chapter 3:

Why HS Students don't read what's assigned: 
     tinyurl.com/ShiftHSReaders
Feedback form when sharing books in class:
     tinyurl.com/FeedbackBookShare

Resources:

• Asking Questions to Improve Learning - The Teaching Center
• How Am I Going to Make This Work Relevant? from Scott Mcleod, leading us to a Forbes article
• How Can Schools Prioritize for the Best Ways Kids Learn? by Katrina Schwartz
• How Might Powerful Questions Inspire Us to Deeper Work via Randy Ziegenfuss
• How we went the "Whole Novels" approach with The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton & check out Whole Novels for the Whole Class by Ariel Sacks
• ​Why don't High School students read what's assigned to them?
• Ewan McIntosh's Blog: http://edu.blogs.com/
• Jen Smith's Blog: edtechjensmith.weebly.com/

What’s a problem you see in your school or classroom, and how can you begin solving it today?

Reflection & Call to Action

What questions do you have about your class?
It’s time for you to consider - and write down - your questions.
What do you feel is just not right in your classroom?
Ask your WHY questions, then transform them into HOW questions.
​Write those HOW questions here so you can be productive in answering them.