It’s amazing what you can get by just asking.

I start every session I teach by asking the kids to say hello to me in Te Reo:

“Can I get a “Kia ora Justin?!”

They’ll repeat it- and what’s more they’ll even match my tone exactly.

To make it fun, I’ll add a “Can I get a “You’re such a great singer, Justin!”

Two things are happening here:

1)Ask with levity: I’m playful in my request. There’s no real stakes but the opportunity is still there. When there’s a bit of a joke with it, it’s in their best interest to answer because it’s fun to be ‘in on a joke’.

2)Ask with direction: In my sessions, we’re signing and speaking in Te Reo. 

My two asks of them are related: one is in Te Reo and one is about singing. It steers us in the direction of the learning without overtly saying “Here’s what we’re learning today.

If I want to start a session that’s fun and engaging, I just ask.