For those of you who missed it, we embarked on a new initiative this term called QUEST, aiming to push the thinking back to our students. The incredible work of our teachers and the positive impact on our students have been so inspiring that I couldn't wait to share some insights from this journey.

This week, I had the pleasure of observing some fantastic classroom strategies. It was tough to pick just one highlight, but here it goes.

Let’s call this technique: Endgame Inquiry

Here's what happened: The lesson objective was to help students calculate present value, monthly repayments, and the number of repayments for a present value annuity. She crafted a challenging question, perfectly tailored to their Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD). For those unfamiliar, ZPD is a key concept from Lev Vygotsky’s theory of learning and development, representing the sweet spot between what a learner can do independently and what they can achieve with guidance.

The teacher wrote this question on the board and dubbed it her "Quest to the Best" board. She then taught the lesson, and at the end, gave students time to discuss among themselves before tackling the critical question. It was fascinating to see how the strategic desk arrangement also boosted engagement.

I found this approach incredibly effective because posing the question at the beginning of the lesson really sparked deep thinking about the impact of interest rates. The students were engaged and actively participating, making the learning process both dynamic and insightful. Did I mention, they were excited to answer!

Next Up Part 3!