12/09/2026
🚨 TEACHERS, STOP ASKING “DO YOU UNDERSTAND?”
You explain a lesson.
You look at the class.
Then you ask:
👉🏽 “Do you understand?”
And what do you hear?
“YES!” 😭
But five minutes later, you ask a question… and suddenly everybody is looking at the ceiling. 😂
The problem is that “Do you understand?” often measures confidence, not comprehension.
A child may say yes because:
• They don’t want to look confused.
• They are afraid to ask questions.
• They think their classmates understand.
• They genuinely think they understand… until they have to apply it.
So, instead of asking “Do you understand?”, try these 5 questions:
1️⃣ “Can you explain what we just learned in your own words?”
This checks whether the child can actually process and communicate the idea.
2️⃣ “Can you show me how you got your answer?”
Perfect for Mathematics, Science and problem-solving.
Don’t just check the answer. Check the thinking.
3️⃣ “Can you give me your own example?”
If they can create an example, they probably understand the concept—not just the definition.
4️⃣ “What part was difficult for you?”
This gives children permission to admit confusion without feeling embarrassed.
Sometimes the child doesn’t need the whole lesson repeated. They need one small part explained differently.
5️⃣ “What would you teach your friend about this?”
🔥 THIS ONE IS POWERFUL.
If a child can teach the concept to someone else, you’ve moved beyond memorisation to understanding.
And here’s something every teacher should remember:
Silence does not always mean understanding.
Nodding does not always mean understanding.
And “Yes, ma!” does not always mean understanding. 😂
As teachers, our goal shouldn’t simply be to finish the lesson.
Our goal is to know:
“Did the child actually learn?”
📌 Save this post.
📤 Send it to a teacher who needs this reminder.
And teachers, be honest… how many times do you still ask “Do you understand?” after teaching? 😂👇🏽
