An Exclusive Questioning Technique

Carol Brewer
Mar 02, 2009

Questioning techniques define the way in which teachers ask questions. The typical is when a teacher asks a question, the student answers the question, and the teacher moves on to the next question. Instead, think about this questioning technique that includes collaborative pairs, look back questions, summarizing, paraphrasing, connections to real life, and writing all in one process!
 
Step 1:  After reading part of the text (chunking), ask your students a question. Students talk with their partners to answer the question. Students respond to the question aloud. (The typical procedure is for teachers to go to the next question, but with this technique, you will take the question further.)

Step 2:  Ask students, "Where did you find that information?" Students work with their partners to look back in the text for the answer or reference to the answer. Students read this information to the class.

Step 3:  Ask students, "What does this mean?" Students turn to their partners and talk about the meaning of the information in the text (summarizing and paraphrasing). Students again share their response.

Step 4:  Ask students for any kind of connections to the question and answer such as, "Has this ever happened to you?" or "Do you know someone like this?" (Check the Reading Strategies for Assessments flipchart  for follow up questions located on the Questioning Technique flip.)

Step 5:  Students write on their graphic organizer the information that has been summarized or paraphrased. You can follow up with a writing assignment that reflects the information on the graphic organizer.
 
The Connecting Learning to Assessments Book and Flipchart are resources for this information and other ideas.