"If you did know . . . "

My team often pulls kids in during our planning time to give them a conference with all of us. We always start by asking the kids to tell us why we've brought them in for a meeting. Most of the time they say they don't know. One co-worker always says, "If you did know, what would you say?" Darned if they don't immediately give the right answer.

So, I decided to give it try in class, too. Today the kids were working independently on an assignment, and they had shifted into helpless mode. Anytime they asked me a question, I started asking the magic question: "If you did know, what would you say?"

Know what? It worked a lot of the time! Even when it didn't work, they at least gave me an answer so I could see what they were thinking and lead them in the right direction. :thumb:

I love it when I find a quick and easy fix for a problem.

 

Great idea

 

I have no problem with it one on one..I wouldn't subject a kid to this at a team meeting, however.

 

Could you give a short example conversation? I'm not fully getting it.

 

That's a good idea!

 

Here's what it looks like when the other teacher uses it for conferences with kids.

Teacher: Do you know why we all needed to talk to you today?

Student: No.

Teacher: If you did know, what would you say?

Student: I haven't been turning in my work, and I goof off in class to try to make my friends laugh.

Works basically the same in class.

Question: How did Janie feel when she arrived home to an empty house?

Student: I don't how how she felt.

Me: If you did know, what would you say?

Student: She felt let down because she thought someone would be home to meet her.

:thumb:

 

That is so strange to me! In a good way, of course, but still... So basically it's for students who do know but are reluctant to share or speak due to stubborness, shyness, etc. Right? Very, very interesting!

 

I thought it was just a fluke the first times I saw the other person use it. He said he learned it in his counseling classes.

Seems to be. I told him that it's magic.

 

yay...thanks for this strategy. I'm definitely going to try it.

 

Thanks. I'm going to try this in class.

 

Love it!

 

I'm not surprised to find that this works: among other things, it's taking the kid off the "hot seat" a little.

 

I can't wait to try this tip!! Sounds interesting (and shiesty (sp?), lol)

 

I was just going to say "I use that....I learned it in my psychology counseling course"....but I see that has already been applied here! For the record it even works on gown ups and tiny people...it is great.

 

I'll need to give this a try.

 

What a great strategy!!! It forces them to go beyond the easy "I don't know" and give it their best guess.

 

I think I am going to try that.

 

Thanks for sharing. I'll have to remember to use this.

 

This is a great strategy!! I heard my counselor use this just the other day!

 

This is like what my mom asked when we were little and would tell her "I don't know" when we she would ask us what we wanted for dinner or gave us a choice on something.

"Pretend you had a choice and pick"

It works!

 

Going to try it out today! Thanks!

 

This is interesting! I'm going to try it with my kiddos, they are a group that easily jumps to giving up!

 

I will try that out! Thanks!

 

I thought of this thread during one of my classes yesterday! I asked a student a question, and immediately got, "I don't know" as a response. I replied with, "If you did know, what would you say," and she then responded to the question without hesitation! :lol:

 

This worked with my juniors!

 

Love hearing about successes!! It's worked with a couple of my students too!

 

It doesn't work with my wife unfortunately...

"What do you want for supper?"

"I don't know"

"If you did know..."

"I don't know"....

 

:lol:

 

I have used this before, as well.

"What does this butterfly symbolize in line 5"
"I don't know
"If you did know, what would you say?"