Where to start the 'Ask Your Learner' conversation

Use Your Voice

Parent teacher conferences. Chatting in the hallway. Phone calls. Even when you run into families at the supermarket (yikes!). Don't let tech get in the way of using your (real) voice.

"Great to see you! Today we learned about polygons. Be sure to ask your learner for some examples of everyday polygons."

On Social

Use the hashtag #AskYourLearner and a conversation prompt or starter on Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram or pretty much anywhere that supports hashtags!

"Today we built a model of the water cycle. #AskYourLearner about why the water cycle is important."

Via Email

If you email daily or weekly updates to families, give them "Ask Your Learner" prompts for each subject or unit to spark conversations at home between learners and families.

"Today we read the last chapter of 'Edward Tulane.' #AskYourLearner which change Edward made was their favorite and why."

Here are some conversation starter suggestions...

English and Language Arts

"Today we continued our novel study. #AskYourLearner what they think will happen next in the plot — and what clues lead them to thinking this."

"We have been learning new vocabulary from our novel study. #AskYourLearner one new word they have learned and what it means."

"We learned about genres today. #AskYourLearner what genre is their favorite and why — and what other genres they curious about."

"Today we learned about the different verb tenses. #AskYourLearner what they are, examples of each and what each tense means."

"We are learning how to write compound sentences today. #AskYourLearner what makes a sentence compound or simple."

"Today we learn how to 'turn the question around' (TTQA) to answer questions. #AskYourLearner how this strategy works."

Math

"Our class learned today about prime and composite numbers. #AskYourLearner what the difference between these are."

"Today we learned how to use area models to multiply big numbers. #AskYourLearner if they think area models make multiplication easier."

"In geometry we are learning about different types of angles. #AskYouLearner what these are and some real-life examples."

"#AskYourLearner for simple and practical strategies and steps for how to make solving complicated word problems easier."

"Although math involves numbers, words can be important too. #AskYourLearner about keywords that help in math."

Social Studies and History

"#AskYourLearner about how we can learn lessons from the past to be better people today — and why this is important to move forward."

"Much of history can connect to our other subjects. #AskYourLearner to find a link between our social studies unit and other subjects."

"#AskYourLearner to pick a famous person from the period we are studying and think about what it would like to be that person."

"We're getting ready to start a new unit. #AskYourLearner what they already know about it and what they hope to learn."

"Exploring a long period of history is complicated. #AskYourLearner what key milestones happened during this time period."

Science

"Today we started a new science unit. #AskYourLearner what they think the unit will be about and what they will learn."

"In our classroom, we use essential questions to explore science. #AskYourLearner what some of these are and how they help learning."

"We ran into some challenges with our science experiment today. #AskYourLearner what we were able to learn from this mishap."

"Today we finished our latest science unit. #AskYourLearner what their favorite part of the unit was and ask for details why."

"#AskYourLearner how our science unit connects to other subject areas we are studying. Encourage them to make connections."

Social and Emotional Learning

"Today we learned about a new feeling and how we can respond to it. #AskYourLearner the name of the feeling and the different responses."

"Every day we have an opportunity to be good school citizens. #AskYourLearner how they are good citizens every day at school and home."

"#AskYourLearner one way they helped make the school day better for someone today. Get details about what they did and why."

"SEL can be used throughout the school day. #AskYourLearner how their behavior and actions can help or hinder learning."

"#AskYourLearner how the SEL skills they use in school can be used at home or in public — and how they can benefit everyone."

Tips for Educators