Practicing Effective Questioning

There are many ways to ask a question and some ways are better than others. Thinking about the types of questions that could be asked or even preparing specific questions prior to teaching a lesson will often lead to more effective classroom discussions. It is important to think of thoughtful questions that encourage students to think critically about the concept being learned. In order to be successful at effectively questioning students, teachers must be aware of the type of questions they are directing to the students and use effective questioning practices.

Suggestions for Effective Questioning

Below is a list different types of questions. The questions are listed in order of their recommended usage. The types of questions at or near the top should be used with more frequency than those at or near the bottom.

1. Ask students to seek out the evidence:o What kind of evidence did you find?o What makes you think that...?

2. Ask students to explain:o How would you explain this?o What were some of the causes that led to...?

3. Ask questions that relate concepts, ideas, and opinions:o How does that compare to...?o What did other people discover or say about ...?

4. Ask questions that encourage your students to predict:o What will you do next?o What will happen if you...?o What could you do to prevent that ?

5. Ask students questions that encourage them to describe:o What did you do?o What happened?o What did you observe happening?

Maximize... Minimize...

...asking questions that begin with words like "What if," "Explain," "Analyze," "Create," and "Compare and contrast," etc.

...asking questions that have a "yes" or "no" response and questions that require merely direct recall of definitions etc.

...the amount of time you wait after you pose a question, i.e. wait-time, in order to allow students to process the question in their minds.

...calling on students directly after you pose a question and calling on a student before you even ask the question.

...asking students to elaborate on their answers and asking students "why."

...telling a student their answer is wrong and not asking them to think of why it is wrong.

...opportunities for students to pose ...straight lecture without student

questions amongst themselves. interaction.

...providing opportunities that challenge students' original conceptual understandings.

...providing opportunities that do not encourage creative and critical thinking.

...encouraging students to work through their decision making process, even if it bring frustration and makes them leave their comfort zone of learning.

...giving students direct answers to their questions without allowing them to think through the decision making process.

Learning is an active process. Teachers must work hard at encouraging students to think on their own and construct their own explanations. This will allow students to maximize their learning potential.

Teaching Strategies To Jumpstart Your Teacher Brain

Teaching strategies are among the most important ingredients for highly-effective learning environments.

In addition to literacy strategies, approaches to assessment, and grouping strategies (among many others), knowing the right teaching strategy for the right academic situation may not be a matter of expertise or training, but memory: out of sight, out of mind, yes?

Which makes the following infographic from fortheteachers.org useful.

While it doesn’t offer definitions and explanations for each strategy (it’s an infographic, not a book), and many great strategies are missing (e.g., 3-2-1, exit slip, project-based learning, accountable talk, ask a question, etc.) it does work well as a kind of reminder for what’s possible, even offering categories for each strategy, from progress monitoring (think-pair-share, KWL charts), to Note-Taking (graphic organizers).

There are 87 instructional strategies listed below, but several are repeated across categories, so let’s call it “50+” strategies.

Enjoy!

Monitoring Progress

1. Alternative assessments

2. Anchor activities

3. Grade as you go

4. Homework options

5. KWL charts

6. Learning contracts

7. Menus/Agendas

8. Mini-White Boards

9. Question Choices

10. Reflection/Response

11. Think-Pair-Share

12. Tiered Activities

13. Tiered Rubrics

14. Varied Products

Compare/Contrast Ideas

15. Cubing

16. Sticky Note Graph

17. Think-Tac-Toe

18. Think-Pair-Share

Form Groups

19. Appointment Clocks

20. Cubing

21. Curriculum Compacting

22. Four Sides

23. Jigsaw

24. Learning Contracts

25. Mini White Boards

26. Question Choices

27. Think-Tac-Toe

28. Varied Texts

Get Moving

29. Appointment Clocks

30. Four Sides

31. Heads Together

32. Jigsaw

33. Literature Circles

34. Reading Buddies

35. Sticky Note Graph

Work Together

36. Anchor Activity

37. Appointment Clocks

38. Learning Centers

39. Cubing

40. Four Sides

41. Grade as you Go

42. Heads Together

43. Jigsaw

44. Literature Circles

45. Menus/Agendas

46. Mini White Boards

47. Reading Buddies

48. Sticky Note Graph

49. Think-Tac-Toe

50. Tiered Activities

Adapt Content

51. Alternative Assessments

52. Learning Centers

53. Cubing

54. Curriculum Compacting

55. Grade as you Go

56. Homework Options

57. Jigsaw

58. Learning Contracts

59. Literature Circles

60. Menus/Agendas

61. Orbitals

62. Question Choices

63. Reading Buddies

64. Scaffolding

65. Think-Tac-Toe

66. Tiered Activities

67. Tiered Organizers

68. Varied Products

69. Varied Texts

Share Ideas & Opinions

70. Anchor Activities

71. Learning Centers

72. Cubing

73. Four Sides

74. Heads Together

75. KWL Charts

76. Literature Circles

77. Mini White Boards

78. Reflection/Response

79. Sticky Note Graph

80. Think-Tac-Toe

81. Think-Pair-Share

82. Tiered Rubrics

Take Notes

83. Anchor Activities

84. Jigsaw

85. KWL Charts

86. Think-Tac-Toe

87. Varied Organizers