I don’t ask questions.
I feel that I send too many questions.
I feel like my teachers are so busy, and I’m bothering them with my little questions.
I think my teachers are already annoyed with my emails asking about little details of assignments.
Is this true? Do your students ask too many questions?
Why do our students feel like their questions are trite and irritating?
Recently, I gave students 10 minutes of class time to email their teachers. I encouraged students to ask a question they’ve been putting off, request help making a catch-up plan, or, if none of the above applied, then email confirming everything is going smoothly.
“Thank you for encouraging me to write an email I’ve been putting off,” was one of the emails I received that day. My colleagues also noted that they received more email questions and requests for assistance than typical.
How can we signal that we are welcoming of questions?
One would think that simply stating that you are more than happy to receive questions would do. However, I’ve been saying this for years and, “survey says”, that is not enough. Sure, we can apply the “say it three times” approach and one more student will ask a question. But maybe there’s more we could do.
One of Gretchen Rubin’s Secrets of Adulthood is, “Something that can be done at any time is often done at no time.” In a day filled to the brim with activity, students appear to find it easier not to do the difficult things, i.e. asking for clarification on assignment requirements, reassurance that they understand a topic, or help finding a vital resource.
Students at my online high school have up to one year to complete courses. I often see students who, at some point, run up against a stumbling block in a course that will only be resolved for the student by asking questions. How long does it take some students to ask the question? I’ve seen up to 11 months and 29 days. While mind-boggling, it nevertheless is an upsetting position to be in as a student.
Why are students sitting alone with their struggles?
Questions do often feel like they can be put off. Very few people enjoy revealing that they don’t understand something. Asking questions is a habit that needs nurturing and support. Who better to support students in this lesson than their teachers?
Perhaps teachers could let students in on this secret of adulthood with positive results. Inviting questions and providing specific times for students to ask these questions is a great starting point.
Teachers also have the opportunity to model questioning daily. We can acknowledge when we don’t understand something by asking questions in front of our students. When teachers ask questions, it encourages students to be vulnerable too. After questions are invited, the response is crucial. Students will continue to ask questions if they feel they have been respected with a meaningful response.
What questions do you have?
Author
Erin Sutherland
Erin, BA in Geography, PDPP in Secondary Education, is the Vice-Principal of West Coast Adventist School DL and the Encounter Teacher for Grades 7-12. She has worked in the world of online education since 2012.