How to grow great thinkers
Our Extension and Enrichment Coordinator, Amanda Drain, is passionate about growing great thinkers! She does this in classrooms every day, but she also wants to support parents to grow great thinkers in their homes! In the video below, Amanda chats to Emily Smith, who teaches Kindergarten to Year 9 Extension and Enrichment, about growing curious, deeper thinkers.
Articles by Amanda Drain
The Most Powerful Question You Can Ask
When "I don't know" sparks growth
The Most Powerful Question You Can Ask
If I had to choose just one question that transforms thinking, it would be: "What makes you say that?"
In the classroom it tells our students that their ideas matter, that their thinking is worth exploring, and - most importantly - that I value how they got to their answer, not just whether it’s right or wrong. When you ask “What makes you say that?” students need to push deeper into their thinking - justifying, making connections, explaining - such valuable and worthy actions for our brain to undertake.
At home, this question is just as powerful. Whether your child is explaining why they think a character in a book made a certain choice, why they believe something is unfair, or even why they think pineapple belongs on pizza - asking “What makes you say that?” does three things:
- It encourages deeper thinking: Instead of stopping at a surface-level response, your child has to reflect on their reasoning.
- It builds confidence: They learn that their thoughts matter and are worth unpacking.
- It fosters conversation: It turns simple statements into meaningful discussions.
Try it this week! Next time your child shares an idea or opinion, resist the urge to respond immediately. Instead, ask “What makes you say that?” and see where the conversation takes you. You might be surprised by the depth of their thinking - and they’ll grow as a thinker because of it.
- Extension and Enrichment Coordinator, Mrs Amanda Drain
When "I don't know" sparks growth
In my last article, I explored the power of asking “What makes you say that?” to encourage students to push deeper into their thinking. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on an equally powerful response: “I don’t know.”
This response can of course signal the complete absence of thinking:
“What do you think about Hamlet’s choices?”
“I don’t know.”
“What strategy could you use to solve that equation?”
“I don’t know.”
But in the right moments, “I don’t know” can spark curiosity, discussion, and deep thinking - for both the person saying it and those around them.
In exploring numbers with my Year 4 maths class last week, students asked, “Instead of 4 squared, can we do 4 triangled? 4 sphered? 4 to the power of pyramid?” I told the students, “I don’t know” (which was true!) That simple answer led to diagrams, models, debates - and even Mrs Mekerdichian, our Maths Coordinator, said it made her think about Maths in a whole new way!
At home, “I don’t know” has sparked rich discussions. Recently, when my daughter asked me at the dinner table what my favourite animal is, instead of my usual quick answer (meerkat!), I paused. My “I don’t know” led to a debate on meerkats vs. orcas - and a new #1 ranking! When my older daughter questioned our screen rules, “I don’t know” opened the door to a reasoned debate and a compromise.
Saying “I don’t know” shows that I don’t have all the answers - and that my thinking can evolve with new information. It models curiosity, learning, and growth, whether in the classroom or around the dinner table. Being a flexible thinker and a lifelong learner are characteristics we should all strive for. So, embrace and model the power of not knowing—you might be surprised by where it leads!
- Extension and Enrichment Coordinator, Mrs Amanda Drain