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 have a "yes"

or "no" response and questions that
require merely direct recall of
definitions etc.

...calling on students directly after you

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

...telling a student their answer is

wrong and not asking them to think of
why it is wrong.

...opportunities for students to pose

questions amongst themselves.

...straight lecture without student

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.

...asking questions that begin with words like

"What if," "Explain," "Analyze," "Create," and
"Compare and contrast," 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.

...asking students to elaborate on their

answers and asking students "why."

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 doesnt offer definitions and explanations for each strategy (its 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 whats 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 lets
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