Motivational Quote #1: “Sometimes questions are more important than answers.

”-Nancy Williard
Motivational Quote #2: “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing
is not to stop questioning. “ - Albert Einstein

AIM: STWBAT identify their own questioning habits and make a plan to improve upon our questioning
strategies
STWBAT observe excellent teaching and categorize the questioning and look for ways to improve

Questioning throughout the lesson

Do Now:

1. Take a look at your lesson plan that you brought. Fill in the following
table

Part of the lesson Questions written in Where on Blooms?

Review

Hook

Mini-lesson

Guided Practice

Independent Practice
 Check for
understanding

Closing

2. Where/How are you questioning well?

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3. Where/How do you need to grow your questioning?
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Why do we question:

1. We question so that we are making the kids do the thinking, instead of

the adults.
2. We question so that we are pushing learning to the highest level
3. We question so that we can assess what kids know and don’t know, so
that we can plan our follow up lessons and make the right groups

Questioning expectations!

 RIGHT IS RIGHT – hold out for 100% of the answer

o For example: “I like what you’ve done.  Can you get us the rest of the way?” or “Good but
don’t stop there…”
 STRETCH-IT – push students to answer follow-up questions
o For example: ask for how or why, a better way, evidence or better word
 ELABORATIVE INTERROGATION – forces students to prove or defend answer in a positive
manner
o For example: “tell me why you think that…”
 RATIO:  teacher talk/student talk. 
o Ways to increase student ratio: fill in the blank, half-statements, call and response, cold-call,
playing dumb, or unbundling
 CLOSE THE CIRCUIT – loop back with a child who doesn’t know the answer
o For example:  have student repeat the answer after you or another student has given the
answer or you (or another student) can give cues.  But you must loop back!
Video observation

Observation Form

Type of question # of this type question Questioning

asked (tally marks are great or Strategy used or
you can actually record the missed
questions they are asking!)
opportunity? (right
is right, ratio, close the
circuit, interrogation,
stretch it?)
Knowledge
What happened when? Who was the
main character? What does dapper
mean? How many?
Comprehension
What do you think could happen next?
Can you tell me in your own words what
dapper means? What’s the difference
between a nickel and a dime?
Application
What questions would you ask the
president? Can you make a connection
to…? Could this story have happened in
NY?
Analysis
Why did this happen? How is this
similar to the connection that you
made? How do you know that
2+2=4? How else could the story
have ended?
Synthesis
How many different ways can you create
25 cents? Could you write your own
solution to this problem? Create a new
rhythm to play on the drums. Can you
write your own story with a beginning,
middle and end?
Evaluation
What do you think about that? Do you
agree or disagree, why? Why is that
the right choice or wrong choice? Can
you come up with a better solution to
the problem? Prepare a presentation
on a topic that you chose and explain
why you chose it.
Constructive vs. Destructive responding! What do you notice? What are great examples
of constructive responding? Any destructive habits that I need to break?