Don't Yapsplain
This type of question usually has one clear answer, like “Is your function giving the output you expect?”
What is a closed question?
This strategy means pausing after asking a question so students have time to think.
What is wait time?
This mindset focuses on improvement, effort, and learning from mistakes.
What is a growth mindset?
These are small positive actions, like validating a peer’s contribution, that can help students feel like they belong.
What are microaffirmations?
This type of question encourages students to explain their thinking, such as “What have you tried so far?"
What is an open question?
Instead of answering one student directly, an LA might ask, “What do others think?” to promote this.
What is collaboration?
When an LA says, “This problem is difficult, but let’s break it down together,” they are combining growth mindset with this supportive technique.
What is empathizing with peers?
Underfunded schools, lack of AP classes, language barriers, and unequal access to tutoring are examples of these.
What are systemic barriers or educational disparities?
This questioning method starts with a closed question to check in, uses open questions to guide thinking, and ends with a closed question to check understanding.
What is the question sandwich?
Instead of solving a long problem for students, an LA asks them to break it into smaller steps: “What is the question asking? What information do we have? What should we try first?” This learning strategy makes a difficult task more manageable.
What is chunking?
This seven part acronym help make an LA goal clear, realistic, reflective, and adjustable throughout the quarter.
What is SMARTER?
Assuming quiet students understand the material without checking in may reflect this unconscious influence on LA behavior.
What is implicit bias?
The Week 5 seminar connected redlining to unequal access to prerequisite learning. If a student is missing background knowledge, an LA should avoid assuming the student “just didn’t try” and instead ask questions to understand what prior resources or preparation they had access to. This helps the LA recognize what?
What are systemic barriers to learning?
In the equality vs. equity discussion, giving every student the exact same support was not always enough. In section, an LA might spend extra time with a group that has less prior exposure while still making sure everyone has access to help. This is an example of what?
What is equity?
A student tells their LA that they feel like they only got into UCLA by luck and won't ever be able to suceed. As a LA, you validate the student’s feeling, avoid empty reassurance, and help the student identify one specific next step towards success. This growth mindset approach is responding to what psychological phenomenon.
What is perceived fraudulence?
A peer seems behind because they did not have the same prior exposure to the subject. An LA avoids judgment, uses microaffirmations, connects them with resources, and structures group work so they can participate meaningfully. This is an example of this broader teaching approach.
What is culturally responsive and inclusive LA practice?
A student says, “I never learned this in high school, so I’m probably behind everyone else.” The LA knows the answer to the worksheet question, but instead of jumping into a mini-lecture, they ask: “What parts of this topic do feel familiar?” “What information do we have in the problem?” and “What would be a reasonable first step?” This approach supports the student without reinforcing shame about unequal preparation.
What is using guided questions to build confidence and understanding?
A group is stuck and wants the LA to just show them the solution. Instead, the LA asks, “What strategy did you try first, why did you choose it, and how could you check if it worked?” This pushes students to think about their own thinking instead of relying on the LA as the answer key.
What is metacognition?
The 7 parts of a SMARTER goal
What is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound, Evaluated, and Revised?