091020 — Blog — Rulerless

The moment that leads to incredible student performance

As a teacher, there’s a moment I’m always waiting for. Before this moment, we’re just going through the motions. After this moment, everything changes.

It’s when my student says to me, “I don’t really understand this. Can you help me?”

When I consider the circumstances in a typical school classroom, I appreciate just how big a deal it is for a student to be able to take this step.

Many of us have been in classes so big or intimidating that we don’t want to ask a question. We figure everyone else probably gets it and we’ll be holding everyone up.

Casey von NeumannOctober 11, 2019081420, 091020 Comments

If I have no questions, I probably have no clue

When you think about it, strangers should have the most to talk about.

They know nothing about each other. Theoretically, everything they say to each other should be new and fresh.

But because they don’t know each other, there are no entry points to the conversation. There are no questions, and therefore no answers. They stand together at the bus stop In silence and boredom, stamping their feet in the cold.

Their curiosity unstimulated, they go their separate ways without knowing anything more about each other.

Casey von NeumannSeptember 24, 2019091020, 061322Comment

A good question is a thinking exercise

The body of collective human knowledge has its origin in good questions.

Questions like “Does the sun actually revolve around the earth?” and “What will happen if I take a bite of this thing that looks like food?” have helped humans to develop an ever-advancing civilization.

At its core, science is a systematic framework for asking and answering questions and organizing the knowledge gained therefrom.

It’s tempting, when there’s a good question, to simply look up the answer. It’s never been easier to do so.

Casey von NeumannAugust 15, 2019081020, 091020, 051421Comment

How effective are your questions?

Asking for help is one of the hardest things we have to do to overcome a culture of being afraid to look dumb. It is an act of courage and a move toward growth.

Often, the starting point is simply, “I don’t get it” or “I’m stuck.” And because I understand the strength it takes for most of us to reach out and ask for support, I will always engage with these implicit questions as best I can when it is asked of me.

Casey von NeumannJuly 8, 2019091020, 111020, 020421, 051421Comment

The right answer is a red herring

If you’ve absorbed the message that the fastest kids are the smartest, having to take time to think makes you feel dumb. Not having the answer makes you feel dumb. And yet, thinking deeply and being exposed to new ideas is actually what makes you smarter .

To teach kids to think, we’ve got to give them questions they don’t automatically know the answers to — juicy questions that lead to more questions. And we, the adults, need to be willing to play this game, too.

Casey von NeumannMarch 1, 2019091020, 011121, 051421Comment