3-2-1 Tuesdays with Ms Niv

Issue #259, 24th June 2025

What kinds of questions did you ask today in your conversations? Parents, students, teachers? There are some tips for each of us about asking effective and non-effective questions. Here’s a quick check on your own style:

Parent:

• Effective: “What was the most challenging part of your math homework today, and how did you work through it?”
• Non-effective: “Did you do your homework?”

Student:

• Effective: “I’m struggling with how photosynthesis connects to cellular respiration – could you help me understand the relationship between these two processes?”
• Non-effective: “I don’t get this. Can you just tell me the answer?”

Teacher:

• Effective: “What patterns do you notice in these historical events, and what might have caused them to unfold similarly?”
• Non-effective: “Who can tell me what happened in 1776?”

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Three Images of the Week

Two Thoughts of the Week

When you ask questions, you send your constituents on mental journeys. – James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner

Computers are useless, they only give you answers. – Picasso

One Video of the Week

The key to deeply connecting with others is about more than just talking — it’s about asking the right kinds of questions, says journalist and author Charles Duhigg. He explores research-backed tools to have more meaningful conversations, sharing a simple yet powerful approach to transform how you communicate.

Reading with Ms. Meenu: Tip of the week

Signs help solve problems: 

What’s the purpose of signs, let’s get started by getting your class to think about what would happen if there were no signs. Joan Holub’s picture book Runaway Signs (2020) is a humorous take on just such a scenario. When the signs take a vacation, there is chaos everywhere. No one knows where it is safe to cross the street, where the library is, when the stores are open and even the road crew can’t find where to do their road work. Predictably the only sign that won’t take a break is CAUTION! Let’s set up the same concept by asking our students what would happen in your school if all the signs went on vacation or there were no signs. Students have to all memorize where the gym, learning center and health office are but about a visitor or new student?

It makes sense to have your students dig deeper in a new genre before we ask them to write in it. And this is easy to do right away as schools are full of signs. Go on a sign walk; explore your classroom hallway or school with your class to notice signs. Because sign makers anticipate questions, help your students to figure out which question each sign answers. You could help them start by listing the following.

·         Signs for room names or supply labels answer: What is this?

·         Signs with school rules or classroom norms answer: How are people supposed to act here?

·         Signs like EXIT or Keep Right on the Stairs answer: Where do I go?

·         Signs like Family/Teacher Conferences next week and Poetry Breakfast on Monday answer: What special event is coming and when will it happen?

Once your students begin to notice signs, you can help them dig deeper and identify both the purpose of each sign and how the message is conveyed. Ask questions like, “Are the signs long or short?” or What symbols or pictures do they use”? By now they will be ready to sort signs into the types of signage described next.

Happy Reading!!

Meenu Gera

Consulting home and school librarian reading guide

Career assessment, guidance, and placement strategies:

Article 3 -Careers in Transportation, Logistics, and Distribution

Transportation occurs through various modes, including roadways, pipelines, air, rail, and waterways. Individuals in these roles are responsible for planning, managing, and executing the movement of people and goods. Professionals in this field include pilots, air traffic controllers, automotive technicians, bus drivers, and ship captains. They are also involved in the maintenance and repair of vehicles and transportation systems.

Career pathways in this sector include Logistics Planning and Management, Sales and Service, Transportation Operations, and Warehousing and Distribution.

International Job Roles & Average Salary per annum

Airline Pilots, Co-pilots & Flight Engineers $200k	Air Traffic Controllers $ 125k	Commercial Pilots$115k
Captains, Mates & Pilots of Water Vessels$100k	Ship Engineers$95k	Logisticians$80k
Logistics Engineers$80k	Logistics Analysts$80k	Locomotive Engineers$75k
Aircraft Mechanics & Service Technicians$70k	Avionics Technician$70k	Electrical, Electronics Installers & Repairers, Transport Equipment$70k
Gas Compressors & Gas Pumping Station Operators$67K	First Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers& Material Movers$60k	Flight Attendants$63k
Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisor$60k	Rail Car Repairers$60k	Mobile Heavy Equipment Mechanics$57k
Sailors & Marine Oilers$57k	Airfield Operations Specialist$55k	Bus & Truck Mechanics & Diesel Engine Specialist$55k
Automotive Service Technicians & Mechanics $50k	Heavy & Tractor Trailer Truck Drivers$50k	Bus Drivers, Transit & Intercity$50k
Cargo & Freight Agents$48k	Freight Forwarders$48k	Motorboat Operators$45k
Automotive Glass Installers & Repairers$40k	Billing & Posting Clerks$42k	Bridge & Lock Tenders$45k
Ambulance Drivers & Attendants$ 30k	Automotive & Watercraft Attendants$30k

What Employers Look For

Attitude	Skills	Knowledge
Adaptable	Active Listening & Speaking	High School Diploma
Customer Centric	Oral Expression	Degree
Public Safety & Security	Problem Solving	Vocational Qualification
	Analytical

The career counselors at Fermat specialize in Profile Building and College Essays. More about us on www.fermataco.com

Dear reader,
I work with the school leadership team as an advisor and collaborate with teachers as a pedagogical trainer. I also help parents as a parenting counselor and regularly engage one-on-one with students as a personal guide and mentor. This weekly newsletter shares what I read, learn, and experience.

3-2-1 Tuesdays with Ms. Niv is a newsletter you can subscribe to and enjoy your learning journey with me.