Questioning and Risk Free Environment

Is it not amazing that when we ask someone a question about their answer,  we automatically assume our answer must be wrong?  This is true of young children and adults.  This stigma of questioning must be changed if we plan on making risk free learning environments.  As teachers we must be retrained in our questioning ability.  Questions such as “How did you know to …” , “Why did you choose to ….”  Open questions, which require more than one word answers, are great tools for all educators.  I’ve worked with educators for more than twenty one years and I have yet to find an educator who feels competent in asking higher level reflective questions.  It is only when we understand that having the “right” answer is NOT the goal of a math lesson or classroom will we be able to create the atmosphere of a risk free environment.  Some quotes from teachers: “Be patient with students who don’t understand math.” “Create a safe learning environment.” “It’s ok to try something new.” “The classroom environment must be inviting and welcoming.” “Ask more open-ended generic questions to get students thinking.”