Make Just One Change by Dan Rothstein and Luz Santana is game changer in my classroom. At only 176 pages, it lends itself to an easy summary: Teach students to ask their own questions. The authors' premise is grand enough that their work goes beyond the realm of education and into healthcare and mental health, parent and family engagement, voter engagement, and microdemocracy.
The authors set up a very simple system for creating an environment full of inquiry and creativity. First, I introduce the Question Focus, or QFocus, which is essentially a prompt. For my current unit on World War 1 and the New European Imperialism the QFocus is: Competition between industrialized European states. Using that prompt as a springboard, plus some prior knowledge from reading around the topic, pairs of students began to ask questions. The rules for this stage are powerful in their brevity.
- Ask as many questions as you can.
- Do not stop to discuss, judge, or answer the questions.
- Write down every statement exactly as it is stated.
- Change any statement into a question.
The second and third rule relate to each other in an incredibly powerful way. On a whim, I asked both WCIV sections if their teachers often rephrased or tweaked the statements they offered in class. Every hand went up. I then asked how it felt when that refining process occurred. Every student felt "dumber", "less valued", "upset, because I meant what I said." The overwhelmingly negative reaction to something I always considered helpful in a goal-oriented classroom was incredible, and I promised them I'd try never to do it again.
As of now, my WCIV sections have worked with a partner to develop an open and closed version of each question (60+), whittled their options to three refined questions, and chosen one on which to write a paper. The paper marks the second assignment where the students have designed and produced their own work. The strange thing is the extent to which I have to let go of the room- it's not easy or natural for me, but, hey, they're the ones in school. It's nice to bump into something so good, I just have to remind myself, "Do this."
