Teaching and Learning Update

Opportunities to Respond

One of the ways teachers make sure that all learners are active, engaged, and ready to think deeply is through ‘opportunities to respond.’ This means giving every student frequent chances to share their ideas, check their understanding, and learn from one another throughout each lesson — not just at the end!

Teachers use a range of responsive teaching strategies to make learning lively, inclusive, and effective. Here are some of the techniques that are used:

Mini Whiteboards

Each student has their own small whiteboard, allowing them to write down answers, draw diagrams, or show their thinking. This gives teachers instant feedback on who has understood the lesson and who might need a bit more support.

Turn and Talk

Children are often asked to ‘turn and talk’ to a partner to discuss an idea or question. This builds confidence and helps everyone practise explaining their thinking out loud before sharing with the whole group.

Cold Call

Without asking for a volunteer, the teacher invites a student to share their thoughts. This helps keep everyone engaged and thinking, while teachers ask questions in a supportive and encouraging way.

True/False or Multiple Choice

Quick questions like, ‘Which of these is correct?’ or ‘True or false?’ help teachers check for understanding instantly. These can spark great conversations and help clear up any misconceptions straight away.

Stop and Jot

During lessons students are sometimes asked to ‘stop and jot’ their thoughts in a notebook or on their whiteboard. This short pause allows time to process new information and make connections before moving on.

Through these techniques, learning spaces are buzzing with active learning. Every child gets a chance to think, respond, and grow in confidence — ensuring that teaching is truly responsive to their needs.

Talk to your child about the ‘opportunities to respond’ that they have used at school this week.

Tawny Harkness

Assistant Principal – Teaching and Learning