Each morning we set up a question on our question table and display board for the children to answer, with their parent or carer, by placing their name card in a 'yes' or 'no' container.
Such a display is easy to set up and it can become a permanent fixture. It allows children and parents to engage in an activity together on a regular basis.
The display gives a focus to unconfident children as they enter nursery. It provides a real purpose for name recognition. And it enables practitioners to plan for children to revisit ideas, to reinforce specific learning and to stimulate thought.
The possibilities for questions are endless. Questions can require the children to:
* think about a recent activity or learning experience. The example in the photograph refers to Baby Owls by Martin Waddell (Walker Books, 4.99), which we had read in the previous session, and the question posed was: 'Did the Owl Mother come back to her babies?' We displayed the book on the table as a support and to encourage children to share parts of the story with their parents.
* observe an object closely, asking 'Can you see any patterns on the pebble?'
* express an opinion, for example, 'Do you think we should keep the tool box in the construction area?'
* engage children with others or encourage them to make contact through questions such as 'Have you smiled at a friend this morning?'
The display can be presented in various ways:
* In the example, we have used post boxes with collection times and 'yes'
and 'no' shown on the front. Baby milk powder tins with plastic lids make effective and durable post boxes (there should be a steady supply available from families with younger siblings).
* Other ideas include 'gold coin' name cards that are posted into 'yes' and 'no' treasure chests.
* Or write the children's names on frogs that 'leap' into the appropriate pool -a few pebbles and some imitation weed in a large margarine container will usually inspire the imagination!
* A wall display can also be successful - for example, write the children's names on leaves that can be attached to a 'yes' or 'no' tree with Velcro.
Jane Drake is a nursery teacher at Cottingley Primary School, Leeds
