Exploring Essential Questions
All CDS faculty read an article entitled “How to Make Your Questions Essential” before meeting in mixed-grade groups to explore why essential questioning should be an integral part of all teachers’ practices.
The article puts forward the idea that essential questions—those that stimulate thinking and inquiry, spark debate and argument, demand evidence and reasoning, and point to big ideas and pressing issues—are key to shifting learning from mere knowledge acquisition toward something more important and lasting: thinking deeply and the ability to make important decisions. For example, in a social science class, instead of asking a question like, what is nationalism, a student’s time may be better spent examining, what would the world be like if there were no countries? The faculty had an opportunity to create their own essential questions on the article and to share best practices with this strategy.
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Submitted by Dave Harvey, Director of Middle/Senior School Academics
Land Acknowledgment
The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.
School Information
13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
(905) 833-1220
communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca
Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.
