Question of the Day
I am a HUGE fan of the Question of the Day routine. As a kindergarten teacher, one of the most delightful aspects of teaching is the opportunity to inspire curiosity and a love for learning in my students. One powerful tool to cultivate this spirit of learning and community building is through the Question of the Day.
I love how the Question of the Day taps into different curriculum areas. For example, it is great for supporting social skills and social-emotional development. It promotes active listening and empathy as students share their thoughts and learn to appreciate different perspectives. It is also a great math tool. I have been adding a question of the day to our morning message. We use the data as a way to transition into our math lesson by activating our "mathematical thinking" :)
Here are 4 activities to help you make the most of the Question of the Day in your classroom:
- Morning Meetings: Start your day with a group discussion centered around the daily question. Students take turns going around the circle asking the student to their right the question of the day. They can add a tally mark on the board to show their answer. I also have a set of students' names magnetized that we use to mark their choice on the board.
- Graphing and Data: Create an interactive graph on a bulletin board where students can write their names or place stickers representing their answers to the daily question.
- Writing : Incorporate the question into writing. Have students respond to the question of the day in their writing notebook. Extend their writing by asking them to tell/write about their choice by including a "because...".
- Survey and Reporting: Assign a student to be the "Daily Reporter". Their responsibility is to ask their peers the daily question, record their responses, and report back to the class at the end of the day.
Take a look at these resources for additional ideas and Print & Go Question of the Day.
Happy Teaching!
TP@Sparking Creativity