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Aha Moments: School Question Deck
Questions that help a class know each other and love learning, from grade 3 through college.
- The cardsA PDF you print at home, cut, and fold, plus a screen version and phone pictures
- The guideA listening guide for asking, following up, and saving the stories
$19
Your download link arrives by email the moment you pay. You have seven days to change your mind.
- Card fronts
- Four questions a card
- Easy to deep
- Print at home
- A screen deck
- Phone pictures
- A listening guide
- A follow-up on every card
Students open up when a good question comes first.
Every student brings stories to class that never fit on a worksheet: a favorite subject, a brave moment, a big question, or a dream for the future.
Each card in this deck holds one theme, like Discovery, Brave Moments, or Future Me. Turn the card over and you find four questions that start easy and go deeper, plus one follow-up to keep the conversation going.
Download the file, print the cards, cut them out, and fold each one in half. The screen version and the phone pictures come with it, so the deck works on a classroom screen or at a small table.
Draw a card for morning meeting, a writing prompt, an advisory period, or the first week of school. The questions work for students from grade 3 through college, and the deck makes a thoughtful gift for a teacher.
I turned user research into questions for the classroom.
For more than twenty years, my work in product research has been about asking good questions and listening closely to the answers. I have also taught at the university level, and the same skills help a teacher understand every student in the room.
Every card follows the shape of a good interview: easy questions first, deeper questions next, and a gentle follow-up at the end. Nobody has to answer every question, and every answer is a good one.
More question decks are ready too: Family, Your Team at Work, Couples, Friends, and School.
See the front of every card in the deck.
See every cardShow fewer cards
Print your own deck, and keep a copy on every screen.
Print at homeFold-over cards, front and back side by side, four to a page.Print at HomePrintable PDF
Print on regular paper or card stock, cut along the edge, and fold each card in half. You get a real deck without waiting for the mail.
Play on a screenEvery card, front and back, sized for a laptop or a TV.Screen DeckPDF
Share your screen in a meeting or a classroom, and turn the page to turn the card.
Keep it on your phoneA picture of the front and the back of every card.Phone picturesJPG images
Save the pictures to your photos, and you always have a card with you, in line, on a walk, or between meetings.
Listen wellHow to ask, follow up, and save the stories you hear.Listening GuidePrintable PDF
Read the guide before your first class with the deck. It shows how to ask, when to wait, and simple ways to keep what students share safe and kind.
What is true when you finish the deck.
- Every student had a turn to talk.
- Quiet students shared something they are proud of.
- Morning meeting started with a real conversation.
- Students learned how their classmates think.
- Writing prompts were ready whenever you needed one.
- Every question was easy to ask, because the card did the asking.
Hi, I’m Ashley.
I have worked for more than twenty years in accessibility, trust and safety, and product research and design. I helped create many of the systems our day-to-day lives depend on: banking, payments, identity, and fraud protection. One of my roles was vice president of product research at JPMorgan Chase, and I hold a master’s degree in human factors and systems engineering.
I write books, teach, and build good products. Whatever brought you here, I’m glad you came.
Ashley
Read my storyYou have questions, and I have plain answers.
How do I get the files?
The moment you pay, an email arrives with your download link. Save the files to your own computer and phone. There is no account to create and nothing to log back into.
How do I print the cards?
Open the Print at Home PDF and print it on standard paper. Card stock feels best, and regular paper works too. Cut each card out and fold it in half, and the front and back line up.
Who is the deck for?
Teachers with students from grade 3 through college, plus counselors, tutors, and homeschool families. The questions are classroom-safe, and nobody has to answer every one.
How is this different from the membership?
This deck is a download you keep and print, so you hold real cards in your hands. The Aha Moments membership is $5 a month, and it lets you play the Aha Moments cards online at havensmith.company/aha.
Is there a printed deck?
A printed deck is coming later. For now, the download lets you print your own cards today.
Can I share the files?
Play with as many people as you like. Please keep the files for yourself and the people you play with, and send friends here to get their own copy.
Can I get a refund?
Yes. Read it, try it, and if it is not what you wanted, write within seven days of buying it. A real person will get back to you soon with your refund.