Ep 85 How Questions Encourage Critical Thinking in Children

Not all questions are created equal. In this episode we discuss how open-ended questions stimulate critical thinking and curiosity. We explore strategies to move away from giving direct answers and instead, encourage exploration and inquiry. The episode emphasises the significance of waiting for children to formulate their responses and using concrete materials to help them understand concepts. Additionally, it highlights the importance of raising a generation of critical thinkers who are not afraid to ask questions and investigate biases. A free downloadable PDF with open-ended question prompts is available for you to assist in nurturing children's curiosity. 00:00 The Power of Questions in Engaging Children00:36 The Purpose of Questions: Inviting Thinking01:05 Encouraging Curiosity: Moving Away from Closed Questions01:46 Building on Children's Interests: Exploration and Inquiry02:43 The Role of Wait Time in Questioning03:23 Handling Incorrect Answers: Encouraging Concrete Understanding04:21 Raising Critical Thinkers: The Importance of Questions05:13 Resources for Encouraging Curiosity05:33 Conclusion and Call to ActionThe show notes and pdf download is on the episode websiteSign up to Get Curious, the inspirational weekly newsletter for curious educators HERE☕️ If you like my work and want to encourage me to keep going you can do so by buying me a coffee! Any contribution will be gratefully received and will certainly give me the kick I need to keep going.☕️