Why do we ask questions? For teachers to reassure students understand the material being taught; however, the question do you understand is not acceptable. As much as we would love all student to be eager to ask or answer questions it is not probable. Ben Johnson's blog, The Right Way to Ask a Question In The Classroom, explains why only certain students answer questions. If the class knows your question is directed toward all, majority of the class will leave it up to another student to answer. If the teacher calls on a particular student after asking the question, it becomes irrelevant to the rest of the class. One effective approach to avoid this disconnect is using a pause after the question. When you ask the question pause for at least three to five seconds before calling on a particular student. This allows all the students to generate a response in their mind. While reading comments under Johnson's Blog, another teacher stated she uses a white board technique. This allows all the students to answer at the same time on small individual white dry erase boards. This method would work exceptionally well for the Math field, in which I will be teaching. This would encourage all students to work the problems together and answer at the same time.
Good questions make students think.
In the document Asking Questions to Improve Learning it states that good questions encourage participation. There are some important things to remember in order to ask good questions. Avoid questions that do not allow students to think independently. Also, if you must ask yes or no questions follow up with additional questions. Do not ask more than one question at one time, students will be confused and do not know which question to answer. Open ended questions are questions that require more than a yes or no answer. These types of questions require more thinking. Close ended questions only require yes or no. These types of questions are best to be followed with additional questions. After these questions are asked teachers must use active listen skills to encourage the student that they are interested in what they are saying. Do not interrupt while the student is answering , keep eye contact and nod occasionally to insure the student they have your full attention.
Three ways to ask better questions in the classroom
1. Prepare questions
2. Play with the questions
3.Preserve good questions
Preparing the questions you will ask insures you will not leave anything out. Also, placing questions throughout your lesson so that you will not try to squeeze several questions in the last few minuets of class. Leave the questions unanswered for awhile, that will allow the students to think on the question. Write down and preserve good questions that are asked during class. You may use them for the next class or reword the question to keep it interesting.
Questioning Styles and Strategies
The last Video is of a fifth grade class using different types of questioning styles and techniques to promote learning and class participation. He uses the book Bridge to Terabithia to create a class discussion. One of the technique was called mastery. He ask the class to describe the land of Terabithia and to turn to a neighbor to see if they had any similar characteristics. Next, the teacher called on a student at random to share their entry and then surveyed the class to see if they had anything different. In the end he would open the floor to anyone who had additional information to share with the class. He continued throughout the whole class asking questions and linking them to certain activities. He used a learning log to write in so students could exchange responses. When it comes to asking questions in the classroom it is important to know when, where, and how to do so.
The Right Way to Ask Questions In The Classroom.
Asking Questions To Improve Learning
Three Ways to Ask Better Questions
Do you now see why I insist that questions are more important than the answers? Thoughtful. Interesting.
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