What did you learn in school today? 44 Alternatives

go through Terry Heck

You care, but it’s just a cliche – a limping, almost lifeless thing that comes out of your mouth: “How was school?”

You can use subtle variations like “What did you learn in school today?” But in one sentence, “school” is all wrong.

First, there’s dissociation – you have no idea what they’re learning or why. (You leave that to school, because that’s what school is for, right?) This means you know very little about the world your child will learn about and can only talk about it in vague content areas (e.g., math, history).

Then, here’s the hint – they won’t talk about the way they were moved, impressed, or changed, but on rare occasions; you have to drag it out of them.

There is also a question of form—you ask They act like a developing learner who is able to articulate the nuances of their learning to have a conversation that will do anything but make it look like they learned nothing. So what to do?

Well, there’s something to this form of thinking, isn’t there? show me. Show it off. Let’s take a look at some artifacts that express thoughts and emotions. Let’s see the impact of your work and efforts. This is actually a pretty good article in itself. But let’s stick with the old questions—asked on the drive home or at the dinner table.

What are the alternatives to “What did you learn in school today?” Here are some ideas.

25 alternatives to “What did you learn in school today?”

1. When do you find yourself most interested and curious today?
2. Is there anything particularly confusing to you today? What was your reaction?
3. Is there anything unbelievable? Not confusing, but surprising?
4. If you were more ____ today, what impact would it have on the day?
5. When were you most creative today?
6. Tell me one interesting thing you learned, one useful thing you learned, one extraordinary thing you learned.
7. What does a successful day at school look like for you? How does it feel?
8. What are the different reasons your friends go to school?
9. Who worked harder today, the teacher or the student?
10. Otherwise, how can you learn what the teacher teaches?
11. How do your teachers show they care?
12. What do you know and how do you know it?
13. What would you like to know more about?
14. What’s the most important thing you learned today? least?
15. Tell me about an opportunity you took today and how it turned out.
16. What did you learn from a book?
17. What have you learned from your friends?
18. What did you learn from your teacher?
19. What still confuses you?
20. What is something you have said or heard that stuck with you for some reason?
21. Based on what you learned in ______ class today, what do you think you will learn tomorrow?
22. Tell me three facts, two opinions, and one thought you heard today.
23. What should you do with what you learn?
24. When will you surprise yourself today?
25. What’s stopping you from becoming an (even better) great learner?

More “Questions to Ask Students After School”: Alternatives to “How was school?”

Some readers also offered their own choices.

Drew Perkins: “What are some great questions you asked today?”

Heather Blum: “What did you find?”

Heather Blum: “What surprises you?”

Heather Blum: “Where have you traveled?”

Eoin Linehan: “Why do you want to learn this?”

Eoin Linehan: “How do you know you’re learning?”

Kristine Kirkaldy: “What did you learn/did today that made you smile?

Mrs. Moore: “What was your favorite part of school today?”

Amanda Couch: “Tell me your favorite moment at school today.”

Deb Gaskin: “If you were in charge of this class, what would you emphasize or do differently? Why?”

Robin Smith: “What was your ‘good’ today? What was your ‘bad’ today?”

Laura Cobb: “How did you improve today?”

Laura Cobb: “What challenges your thinking?”

Laura Cobb: “How do you contribute to other students’ learning?”

Jackie Gerstein: “What touched your heart today?”

Jackie Gerstein: “Did you experience anything in school that inspired you to change the world?”

Jackie Gerstein: “Did you experience any ‘aha’s today – understanding or seeing something different than before?”

Jackie Gerstein: “Did you experience any fully enjoyed moments while studying today? If so, when and how did that happen?”

Jackie Gerstein: “Did you invent or create anything new today?”