How to Grow Deep Thinkers in Your Homeschool
Want to raise kids who think for themselves?
Start by changing the questions you ask.
Why Questions Matter
Good questions don’t just fill time.
They:
- Spark curiosity
- Build problem-solving skills
- Strengthen empathy
- Teach kids how to think, not what to think
Dr. Richard Paul said:
“Thinking is not driven by answers but by questions.”
Without questions, there’s no deep thinking—just memorizing.
What Happens in the Brain
When you ask a meaningful question, your child’s prefrontal cortex lights up.
That’s the part of the brain used for:
- Decision-making
- Moral reasoning
- Critical thinking
Asking “why?” and “what if?” actually builds smarter brains.
The Magic of Great Questions
Here’s what questions can do:
- Make learning stick
- Spark discussion
- Build perspective
- Grow hearts
- Make literature come alive
It’s not about having all the answers.
It’s about learning how to think deeply.
Use Three Powerful Tools
Here are three frameworks that help:
1. Bloom’s Taxonomy
Start simple. Go deeper.
- Remember: What happened?
- Understand: Why did it matter?
- Apply: What would you do?
- Analyze: What changed?
- Evaluate: Was that right?
- Create: What would you change?
2. Michael Clay Thompson’s Thinking Types
- Emotion: What made you feel something?
- Imagination: What do you see in your mind?
- Reason: Is this idea fair?
- Ethics: Was it right or wrong?
- Application: What would you do in their place?
*See the book: Classics in the Classroom
3. Audrey Rindlisbacher’s Question Types
Start with facts. End with life change.
- Knowledge: What happened?
- Meaning: Why does it matter?
- Principle: What truth does it teach?
- Interdisciplinary: How does it connect to other books?
- Application: How will you live differently?
*See “Opinions to Principles” article by Audrey Rindlisbacher
Try This with Your Next Read-Aloud
- Pick one question type per day
- Ask at dinner, in the car, or before bed
- Let your child ask you a question
- Don’t rush the answers
- Write them down—you’ll treasure what they say
Final Thoughts
The questions you ask shape your child’s brain.
They also shape their heart.
And they can turn a simple story into a lifelong lesson.
So today—ask just one great question.
And see where it leads.
*Listen to my podcast to go even deeper on this topic!
