“Asking the Right Questions” – Sursum Corda News May 2022
Dear Sursum Corda Mamas–
I love those moments when I hit on the right question. When the question is not right–in Form IV Lit class, let’s say–the room will be silent. The students may know all too well what I’m fishing for, or they may not understand at all, but the result is silence. On the other hand, the right question will open a floodgate of thought. My favorite questions in that class this year were close observation questions. Janelle and I would hand out post-it flags and ask them to mark every instance of something…”where do you notice shifts or changes in the story?” for example. There was no answer we were fishing for, but the question focused attention and allowed the students to see new things for themselves. The result would be a few minutes of busy quiet and then a burst of highly individual insights and excited group discussion.
As we close out a school year in the month of May, what questions do you ask yourself? “Will we finish all the lessons I planned on?” “Was the school year all I hoped?” “Did my student conquer spelling/algebra/good attitude?” These questions may need to be faced, but the room will be silent–you already know the answers. Let me suggest a few different questions. “What was one moment of absolute wonder this year?” “When did wonder lead my heart to worship?” “When did I notice God working in my child’s life?” “What was one thing we did that was hard, and I’m proud of it?” “When did I welcome a child in Jesus’ name?” Riffle through the pages of your memory, sticking imaginary “post-it flags” here and there, and let the Lord show you new things and lead you to new insight.
With love,
Heather (for the Board)