The Brain is Not a Container (Ask, Don't Tell)

The brain is not a container that we dump information into, the brain is a problem solver. ​

One of the most powerful ways you can work with your children and students is to use questions.

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When we ask the brain a question, the brain will search for the answer. Understanding this explains the phenomenon that happens when you run into someone you know at the grocery store but can not remember their name. Later when you are falling asleep your brain remembers their name. That is because you asked your brain a question and although it took several hours to answer, it was diligently finding the answer for you.

This philosophy of “Ask, Don’t Tell” is one of the cornerstones of my teaching. 

It does not matter if the student accomplished the goal, it matters if they know that they accomplished the goal. ​

We may enthusiastically exclaim “Good Job!” when a student has successfully achieved what we were aiming to convey, but we do not know if they were aware of what they accomplished - this is where questions come in. Questions both create awareness and are using the brain as it is intended - to solve problems.

Since we only see our students briefly once a week, it is imperative that we set them up in a way that they know how to work when they are practicing by themselves. Questions are a powerful tool to help us create students that are aware of and able to use their time best when practicing at home.

Below is a short clip from my parent talk "Creating a Culture of Success" that goes into more detail on the concept of "Ask, Don't Tell."