Wonderings, Questions, and Curious Young Minds.

As the mother of young thinker I can attest to the fact they seem to ask many, many, questions a day.  So, when I came across a Newsweek article called Creativity in Crisis, I didn't find it as any surprise young thinkers as a hundred questions per day.  It seems like very time I turn around Little E, my son, is asking me a question.  (One of my favorites most recently was 'Mommy is it normal to feel invisible?' Literal question here, not figurative. He loves imagining; I love him.)  Sometimes, it seems every other word he says is "How" or "Why"

What I did find alarming about this article is that it said by the time our children are in middle school they all but stop asking questions.  When I first heard... I got my feathers up.  What do they mean students stop asking questions?  Elementary school is the gap in that sentence... Preschoolers ask questions Middle School students don't.  Once I took time to let the message of that sink in, I found that I agreed with them.  My upper elementary kids didn't ask as many questions as my third grade students did... which made me wonder, Why?  Why are younger kids more curious.

At first I thought, "It must be that younger kids have more to be curious about."  As I pondered that statement I decided that wasn't a good enough reason either.  Shouldn't learners of all ages whether they are 2 or 12 be curious?

So, I created some organizers to help kids think about the things they wondered.  We spent part of each day talking about what we wondered.  Heck, I even wondered aloud all day long to my students.  I had to let go of being the TEACHER or "Knower" (as Little E calls it) and instead showing kids that I was just another learner.  I found regardless of the age or ability of students I was working with the more I modeled being curious, the more they were comfortable with sharing they they also didn't know everything.  This was a big obstacle for my students who were gifted/talented.  They are so used to being the 'Knowers' it is often hard for them to admit being curious, especially if they are upper elementary.  But in time, they'll start asking questions too... Once it becomes the culture of your class.

Here's the link to the organizers that I've used to promote wondering. This pack is less then $1.00 and includes three organizers.  If you would like this for free, just comment on this post or follow this blog and I'll have a drawing to give one away.

Link to my TEACHERS PAY TEACHERS: Wondering Organizers