Questions are keys—collect them.

As a teacher, I love to remind kids that questions are keys — small, easy to carry, and powerful when you try them in different locks. When you’re upset, confused, bored, or worried, a question can open a door: to a new idea, a calm moment, or a friend’s help. Encourage students to collect questions the same way they collect stickers or favorite stories. Keep them in a jar, on a sticky note wall, or in a tiny notebook called a Question Keyring. Teach them to treat questions not as something that shows a mistake, but as tools that help them find answers, name feelings, and decide what to try next.

Simple questions work best. They slow everything down so thinking can catch up with feelings. Short phrases let kids breathe, see the problem, and decide on a step — even a small one is progress. It also gives teachers a turn to listen and to say something that matters: “Tell me more,” or “That sounds hard.” When adults model asking questions too — “I wonder what we could try?” or “What else do you think?” — it shows kids that asking is brave and useful. Collecting questions together builds a classroom habit: we notice, we ask, we try, and if it doesn’t work, we ask again.

Below are a few simple, high-impact questions and phrases you can teach and collect. Put them where students can reach them and use them often so they become everyday tools: - What am I feeling right now?
- What do I need most in this moment — help, quiet, a break, or someone to listen?
- What is one small thing I can try next?
- Who can I ask for help with this?
- Can you tell me more about that?
- Is this thought 100% true, or could there be another explanation?
- I don’t know — can we figure it out together?
- Thank you for sharing — what would you like next?

Turn collecting into a routine. Start class by adding one new question to the jar each week. Invite students to pick a question when they feel stuck. Role-play quick scenes where a question helps: a friend who’s sad, a mistake on a test, or a group project that’s stuck. Celebrate the moments when asking a question led to a better choice or a calmer mood. Over time, students will notice they can calm themselves by naming feelings, find solutions by exploring options, and grow courage by asking for help.

Finally, remind kids that not all questions need an immediate answer and not all keys open every door. The point is to try them, learn from the ones that work, and keep collecting. Questions make us curious, calm, and connected — and that kind of collection is one of the best tools a classroom can hold.