Learning and Teaching

Cold Calling

If you ask your child about their day at school, they might tell you that their teachers ask questions without waiting for hands to go up. We call this Cold Calling, and we use this strategy to include every student in a lesson.

What is Cold Calling?

In a traditional classroom, a teacher asks a question, three students raise their hands, and the teacher picks one. With Cold Calling, the teacher asks a question, pauses to let everyone think, and then chooses a student to answer—regardless of whether their hand is up.

Why do we do it?

It creates "Predictable Fairness" When only students with their hands up get to speak, a small group often dominates the conversation. Cold Calling ensures that every voice is valued and that every student, from the most confident to the most quiet, has an opportunity to participate.

It keeps "Brains On" 

When students know that anyone could be asked to share, they remain mentally engaged throughout the whole lesson. Instead of "checking out" because they didn't raise their hand, every student is busy thinking of an answer in their head, just in case they are called upon. This significantly increases the amount of learning happening in the classroom.

It lowers "Performance Anxiety" 

Cold Calling actually reduces stress over time. Because it is a normal, everyday part of the classroom, the "pressure" of being picked disappears. It becomes a conversation rather than a test.

How do we make it supportive?

We never use Cold Calling to "catch a student out." To make sure students feel safe, our teachers use specific techniques:

• Wait Time: We always provide a few seconds of "thinking time" before calling a name so students can prepare their thoughts.
• No-Opt-Out: If a student says "I don't know," we don't just move on. We might provide a hint or let them listen to a peer's answer, and then come back to them so they can repeat the successful answer. This ensures every student experiences success.

• Scaffolding: We match the question to the student’s current level, ensuring they have the tools to answer correctly.

   

By using Cold Calling, we are building a culture of high expectations and high support. We are teaching our students that their ideas matter and that they are all capable of participating in the learning conversations in our classrooms.

Ms Moran, Mrs Crist, Miss JM

Learning & Teaching Team