A simple question can be a powerful motivator for change. When Kyle Schwartz asked her primary school students at the beginning what she as their teacher should know, she got many messages about loving pets, favorite activities, and best friends. But she also got heart wrenching stories about families being broken, parents being in prison, medical issues that plagued the student or a loved one, and many others. She realized that she had opened a dialogue with students by asking them a question and giving them license to answer in any way they saw fit.
Schwartz's message is that educators must ask important questions to understand the hidden realities that students experience in their lives inside, but more importantly, outside of school, as these realities impact how they learn. This powerful question allows the teacher to lay down the foundations of a safe and supportive environment for all students, allowing everyone to successfully participate as full-fledged members of the classroom and of the school.
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