Holding Space for Insight (Episode 20260101)

As students move beyond fundamentals, teaching shifts from explaining how to play the game to guiding how to think. Socratic questioning becomes especially powerful at this stage – helping players evaluate options, recognize patterns, and make decisions with confidence rather than relying solely on instruction. By asking open-ended questions rather than offering immediate answers, instructors impart deeper understanding and help players develop the judgment skills required for more advanced play.

• When was the last time a student had an ah-ha moment?
• How did that moment feel for them? For you?
• What do students lose when we take over their thinking?

Socratic questioning starts with trusting the learner’s capacity to reason—even when they’re confused.

Talking Points

What Socratic Questioning Is (and Is Not)

It is:

• Curious
• Invitational
• Focused on thinking

It is not:

• Evasive
• Corrective
• Interrogative
• Performative

Five Types of Questions That Create Insight

Clarifying Questions – Help students articulate their thinking
“What made you choose that tile?”
“Can you walk me through your reasoning?”

Assumption Questions – Gently surface misunderstandings
“What are you assuming about exposures here?”
“What rule are you relying on?”

Evidence Questions – Anchor learning in facts or rules
“Where on the card do you see that?”
“What rule supports that choice?”

Perspective Questions – Expand awareness
“Is there another way to look at this?”
“What might happen if you waited one more turn?”

Reflection Questions – Turn experience into learning
“What did you notice just now?”
“What would you do differently next time?”

Why Socratic Questions Work Well with Adult Learners

Socratic questioning works because it:

• Honors existing knowledge
• Preserves dignity when mistakes happen
• Reduces dependence on the instructor
• Builds confidence through self-discovery

When players find the answer themselves:

• They remember it longer
• They trust themselves more
• They enjoy the game more

Holding space for insight isn’t passive. It’s an active choice to slow down and trust the learner.

Activity

Building a Socratic Question Bank

This activity helps you shift from explaining what to do to asking questions that support thinking and decision-making in real time.

Step 1: Identify a Common Teaching Moment

Start with something you explain often during play, such as:

• Identifying the strength of a hand
• Discard planning
• Hand reading

Write down the statement you typically say.

Example: “When you receive your hand, identify whether its strength comes from multiples or a pattern, then choose a category that matches most of your tiles.”

The goal here is awareness—notice how directive your default explanation is.

Step 2: Turn the Statement into a Socratic Question

Rewrite your statement as a single question that invites observation and thinking.

Example: “Before choosing a category, what do you notice about the structure or repetition in your tiles?”

This shifts the focus from instruction to discovery.

Step 3: Soften and Expand the Question

Create two or three open-ended variations that allow for multiple answers and reduce pressure.

Examples:

• “Which parts of your hand feel the most promising right now?”
• “What options could develop with just a few more tiles?”
• “What first pass would leave you with the most flexibility?”

These questions keep the game moving while encouraging reasoning.

Read the directions below, then create Socratic questions. Click the downward arrow to see how you did.

Step 4: Choose One Question to Practice

Select one question you’ll intentionally use more often during play.

Practice it until it feels natural and fits the rhythm of the game.

The aim isn’t to ask more questions—it’s to ask better ones that support confidence and independent thinking.

Reflections

• What question could you ask more often instead of explaining?
• Where do you rush in to rescue students from confusion?
• What might change if you trusted insight to arrive on its own?
• How could this shift the energy of your teaching this year?

Socratic questioning isn’t about teaching less; it’s about empowering the players.

When we ask better questions, we don’t just teach rules. We teach thinking—and we hold space for insight to emerge.