What is Dynamic Thinking?
Dynamic Thinking is an approach that helps children and young people develop flexible thinking. Instead of giving quick answers or instructions, adults guide ākonga to notice what is happening, consider possibilities, make a plan and reflect on what worked.
This fits well with guided participation. Kaiako, whānau and support people walk alongside the learner, using everyday moments as opportunities to build thinking, communication, independence and confidence.
Why is Dynamic Thinking helpful?
Builds flexible thinking
Learners practise moving from one idea to another, considering different options and coping when plans change.
Supports communication
Adults model useful language such as “I wonder…”, “What else could be happening?” and “What is your plan?”
Grows independence
Rather than relying on adults to solve problems, learners are supported to think, plan and try for themselves.
Teacher examples
Starting a tricky task
Instead of: “Just get started.”
Try: “What do you notice about the first step? What part feels possible? What could you try for two minutes?”
Group work conflict
Instead of: “You need to share.”
Try: “I notice two people want the same role. What are some fair possibilities?”
Whānau examples
Morning Routine
Instead of: “Hurry up and get ready.”
Try: “What do you notice still needs to happen before we leave? Which thing will you do first?”
Plans Change
Instead of: “Stop complaining.”
Try: “This is different from what we expected. What are two things we could do now?”
Classroom example
A learner comes to the teacher upset and says, “My group won’t let me play.”
Directive response
Adult: “Go back and tell them to let you join.”
This may solve the immediate issue, but it gives the learner little opportunity to practise social problem-solving.
Dynamic Thinking response
Adult: “You noticed that the group kept playing without you.”
Learner: “They won’t let me play.”
Adult: “I wonder what might be happening. What are some possibilities?”
Learner: “Maybe they don’t want me.”
Adult: “That is one possibility. Could there be another?”
Learner: “Maybe they already started and don’t know where I fit.”
Adult: “What could you try next?”
Learner: “I could ask, ‘What role could I have?"
Adult: “That sounds like a plan. After you try it, come back and tell me what happened.”
In this example, the learner practises noticing, considering more than one possibility, planning a communication strategy and reflecting after trying it.
Useful Dynamic Thinking prompts
Notice
What do you notice?
What is happening?
What has changed?
Wonder
I wonder...
What do you think?
What could be happening?
Possibilities
What else could it be?
Is there another way?
What could we try?
Plan
What could you do next?
Which idea will you try?
What is your plan?
Reflect
How did that work?
What helped?
What might you try next time?
Printable prompt card
Print the Dynamic Thinking prompt card for lanyards, classroom walls, planning folders or whānau conversations.