Lesson 3 of 7 · 6 min · 8-card deck

Questioning that reaches everyone

Cold-calling, no-opt-out and think-pair-share — replacing hands-up.

Hands-up questioning is the silent killer of inclusive teaching. The same five confident pupils answer everything, the rest opt out, and you have no idea what most of the class actually understands. Within a fortnight, lower-attaining pupils have learned that they don't need to think.

Cold-calling — naming a pupil before asking the question — fixes this. It signals that everyone is expected to think, and it gives you a representative sample of the class's understanding. Done warmly and with clear scaffolding, it raises engagement and reduces anxiety, because pupils know what to expect.

Active recall flashcards

Work through every card. Try to answer in your head before flipping — the act of retrieving is what builds durable memory.

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Practice scenario

Asking a Year 8 English class 'what does the writer's use of short sentences suggest here?' — the teacher pauses 8 seconds, then says 'Aisha, what did you come up with?'. If Aisha says 'I don't know', the teacher takes an answer from Tom, then returns: 'Aisha, in your own words — what was Tom's point?'.

Try this in your classroom

Replace hands-up with cold-calling as your default.
Always pause 5–10 seconds between question and name.
Use 'no-opt-out' so pupils never escape thinking.
Use think-pair-share for any question requiring more than one sentence.