. What were you expecting? What surprised you?

Story telling techniques../ Participation.
I was expecting stories from the presenter only./ We didn't.

../ How personal it is.

You were talking about something that I do.

../ How much fun it was.

A writing workshop.

A teacher's personal story about teaching experience.

../ You 'allowed' us time to interact.

I met someone new and have a good idea to use with my class.

./ Moving, Thought provoking.

How to develop and think about your personal story and put it to good use.

../That there was group work as part of a presentation.

To learn how to use personal stories to enrich my teaching and the students learning from me and each other.

../How powerful one question can be surprised me. You can really get to know someone with one question. One question leads to stories.

Writing strategies for the classroom / Crazy guy with white hair telling funny stories.

./ It was very useful.

../ I like how interactive it was.

A workshop on literacy and writing.

I thought it would give more information. / Surprised with the amount of time given to talk.

Expected to sit and listen / instead was engaged to participate.

../ I liked the idea that it was going to be interactive and not just sitting and listening.

../ How hard it is to question yourself.

Literacy connections / The open attitude of strangers.

../ How easy it is to do.

../ I was pleasantly surprised.

../ I seem to have a bit of baggage. Should this turn into a therapy session?

../ That I can't shut up.

../That once I started answering a question that initially I didn't think I could answer, I couldn't stop with all of the ideas.

An information session of some sort/ The engaging way we were caught up , immediately in thinking about the power of questions.

../ Very fast and informal. More time need on instructions and sharing.

It surprised me how simple the idea the concept of specific questions is and that I have not done something like this before.

 

 

• Why did you enjoy it?

I heard stories I never heard before from a friend I thought I knew very well.

It made me think "questions."

It was entertaining.

I love to journey through life with people and I often do that by engaging through listening to them. I have always believed that we all have a story and we need each other.

Humour.

Common , ordinary, real person.

That is was interactive and humorous.

I like to share my stories.

I got to think about some deeper thoughts that haven't come to the surface in a while.

Interaction as awesome (calm, relaxing, interesting)

I was inspired to listen in a different way.

Interactive nature.

It made me realize how important it is to ask the question that prompt communication instead of being upset that communication doesn't just happen.

The opportunity to open up to people I didn't now when I started!

Sharing personal stories with my colleagues.

Making connections with others.

Interesting ideas and the time to talk with another teacher.

I like questions.

We got to share our personal stories and reflect on our own.

Thinking about options of what I have chosen.

It was fun, lighthearted , informative and interesting.

CBowers was easy to listen to.

Presenter was interesting and dynamic.

It made me think.

Took me out of my comfort zone and made me really think about questions that matter, make an impact.

Finding out more about people.

Interactive , not just listening.

I got to know the people in my group more.

Gave insight into people and thus got to know them better.

Funny and quick paced.

Learned a lot from listening.

You inspired us to think and I answered a question about a memory I had.

Meeting new people. Learning more about myself.

Got to talk with others I had not met before. Fun!

Questions really made me think and reflect.

( I'm as outgoing/ crazy as the speaker.)

 

• An interesting question you heard, thought of, or asked.
  
  What are two of your valued things ( not people?)

What do you do to celebrate you?

What led you into a teaching career?
How do you solve hurtful relationships at work?

What makes you smile/ laugh?

Favourite university course?

What is your favourite nature story? School memory? Memory with your children?

Who was the teacher who inspired you the most?

What was the latest most exciting thing that has happened to you lately?

What lessons did you learn from your parents?

Who was your favourite teacher?

What lesson do you wish your parents had taught you?

What is one thing you want to teach your children?
What did your parents not teach you, that you want to teach your children?

What is your best memory?

What do you want to do when you retire?

What was your worst experience at school?

How does your earliest memory affect you?

What do you want your eulogy to say?

What inspired you to become a teacher?

What student touched your heart ( more than any other?)

What was the most difficult challenge you face in your life? How did you overcome this challenge?

What is your first memory?

What is your favourite thing to do outside of work?

What event was a turning point in your life?

What would you like to change about your childhood?

What is your greatest fear?

If you were dying would you be able to say you did everything you wanted to?

. How could you use ideas from this session?
Anywhere.

Meeting people at church.

With new teachers, parents, even students.

Take more time to listen and ask further questions.

Itinerant teachers.

There are many students who have difficulty putting ideas on paper. Recording their stories and getting them on paper would help them think of themselves as writers.
Icebreaker, crowd of strangers, staff meeting.
Warm ups to writing.

At student led conferences I make up interview questions that the child would ask the parent to ask:
eg What can I do to help you with school?
As a parent what do you want me to help you most with your school work.

Great way to show children they have many personal stories.

Great way to develop oral language.

I will 'question' myself and class.

To get to know my children better at the beginning of the year and to give them an opportunity to know me.
At a retreat of adult faith formation.
Getting to know my staff better. Effective question to improve interpersonal relationships on a staff.

Better informed questioning in classroom situations.

In staff room, hallways, school start up

Relaxing people in conflict.

I'd like to ask my students better questions.. to show interest and to create experiences for them.

Building connections in class and community.

Kids come up with questions and then choose one to write about.

Use with family members. See how answers differ from oldest to youngest.

On a trip. Pro-d day. Parties.

Teaching critical thinking skills.

In general in life, to talk to family and friends on a different level.

In language classes:

Writing with descriptive paragraphs.. make the personal story come to life using vivid images.

Helping children come up with topics for writing.

With my teenage children at the supper table.-especially at special occasions.

Talk with your spouse.

School pro-d.

Develop better relations with staff and students.

Make the workplace a safer/ relaxed place.

Interview grandparents and write their stories.

. Would you like to have another session like this? Why or why not?

Come again and again, You hit the nail on the head.
Very thought provoking. Eye opening.
Sure. Smaller group. The more you talk to others and hear their stories the more ideas you get. It would strengthen your memory.
Yes, there was not enough time.
Make me 'dig deep' within myself.
Make me expand my horizons.

I would like District 14 to understand the importance of primary grades having the opportunity to share their stories, free choice time to work and talk together and develop memories with their friends.

Yes, I'd like to see these questions in action in the classroom.

Yes because it was interactive and fun. Learn from those around you rather than just smiling and saying 'hello'

Yes , more info now to use.

Yes, I'd absolutely love to have another session like this because it really is a great experience in building connections , learning about our friends, family, colleagues, students.

Yes , to create fresh ideas among the staff.

I'd like to learn more.

Yes, good for staff to bond.

Would be more beneficial in a smaller group session.

Yes, at the beginning of the school year to use as a 'get to know you' and team-building session.

Yes, it very reflective.

Yes, because asking the right question can help you learn a lot about others.

Yes, we weren't finished yet. We wanted to talk more.

Yes, it was challenging. I like thinking about myself.

Yes, I am not a person who enjoys large group interaction; but I enjoyed this form of interaction. It was relational.

Yes. We needed more time. A writing component would be interesting.

Yes, as uncomfortable as people are with stranger it is very influential to hear stories from people other that friends.

Yes, could you come to Rexton?

 

. What did you learn about yourself /others ?

Some people want the 'old', some the 'new'

Memories I had buried deep.

I am worthy to be listened to.
I am not a deep thinker. I am more on the surface.

I connected with someone who knows something about my topic. Surprise! We will meet again to continue the discussion.

This would be a great stimulus for all classroom teachers.

Reconfirmed some of my values and beliefs.

A teacher I know well represses hurt feelings at work.
That we have similar experiences.
That I have a difficult time pinpointing one answer to some questions.
I like listening to others' answers. It can be difficult to think of one answer , so many things come to mind.
I don't want to end up like my grandmother.
Being a parent changes your perspective.

Got to know others better
I am passionate about my childhood experiences. Wonderful memories.
Participating in this session really reaffirmed for me , my reasons for becoming a teacher.
That it's really hard to answer questions.
Everyone has a story.
I'm dying for a change!
How much information strangers will divulge to each other.
How important it is to listen.

Learned more about my coworkers.

People like to share their life experiences but will not just come out and tell you these things - at work we are all so wrapped up in dealing with the children at school to focus their own lives.
To ask more questions.

Be a good listener.

My friend is extremely shy.

That my best friend would like to learn to play the piano.

My friend's answer was humorous.

My colleague is a really great person.

I have high expectations for myself.

I know my teaching friends but not really on a personal basis. I've learned more about them in this session.

They have interesting experiences that have had an impact on other experiences in their life. Just like us!

Asking questions eases tensions.

I have all of these stories inside of me that I didn't even know were there.

I have goals that I lost sight of.
I usually always break silence on elevators. But hate talking in washrooms.

• What was new for you in this?

Nothing.. I am spiritual story teller.

We all have fascinating stories to tell.

Talk about yourself and be proud!

Realizing the power of a question.

The power.

It's nice to know that someone else cares about what I think.

This is a basic idea that has stimulated my thoughts.

Opportunities to write feedback throughout the workshop, helps to get ideas fresh on the page.

Asking the right questions can lead you to hours of entertainment.

Thinking of other people's stories.

Meeting new people.

I'm more of a listener, so it forced me to open up more to strangers.

Break the code of silence.

The ways stories develop from one question.

The interaction/ sharing between participants re: personal stories is very interactive! Personal and participant-based.

Reflecting on the type of mundane questions as opposed to interesting engaging ones.

I didn't think to ask questions like this in my classroom. It could lead to very interesting discussions.

Not necessarily new, but a wonderful reminder that everyone has a story.

Having a chance to talk.

Getting personal.

It's always important to expand our questioning and listening skills.