StatusIn preparation · the full piece will follow our opening
Asking instead of telling
Socrates is remembered for teaching through questions. Rather than giving answers, he asked people to explain what they thought, then asked more questions until they saw the gaps in their own reasoning.
Why it suits ten-year-olds
Grade 5 learners love to argue, and they’re starting to reason about why things are true. A good question, like “Is it ever fair to break a rule?” or “How do you know that’s a pattern?”, gives that energy somewhere useful to go.
Questions put the child’s mind to work.
What it looks like in practice
A short discussion with clear rules: listen fully, respond to the idea rather than the person, give a reason. The mentor guides with questions and lets children reach conclusions themselves, then helps them write those conclusions down.
What you’ll take away
- 01Questions put the child’s mind to work.
- 02Ten-year-olds are ready to reason about why.
- 03Good discussion has clear rules.
