- Gwinnett County School District
- Quality-Plus Teaching Strategies
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Questioning
Quality-Plus Teaching Strategies
Frequent Use Strategy
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This strategy uses questions to prompt student discussion and debate that expands student thinking and challenges ideas. Effective questioning encourages students to evaluate concepts and sources and ask “Why?” and “How?”.
When using Questioning, the teacher will purposefully ask strategic questions to help students clarify their thinking and isolate any confusion they may be experiencing.
Students will develop tolerance for ambiguity, exchange ideas, and develop reasoning skills (inductive/ deductive) through questioning in order to learn.
Questioning is not teacher-centered, a list of close-ended or recall questions, or a checklist of test questions. Questioning is most effective when teachers pose questions that require thought, allow students to answer questions in a variety of ways (verbal, written, through technology, with peers, etc.), and build students’ ability to ask their own probing questions.
References
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Texts
- Knight, J. (2013). High-impact instruction. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin. Chapter 6, Effective Questions.
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Marzano, R.J. (2017). The new art and science of teaching: More than fifty new instructional strategies for student success. Bloomington, IN: Solution Tree Press. p. 99-100.
Look Fors
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The Teacher will…
- purposefully plan and pose questions during teaching and learning that cause students to clarify and expand their thinking.
- consistently provide appropriate wait time and strategically allow silent “think time” before asking for student response.
- use a variety of methods to provide thought-provoking questions and ways for students to respond to one another.
The Students will…- develop a tolerance for ambiguity, exchange ideas, and develop reasoning skills, through questioning to learn.
- think deeply and strategically, applying knowledge and skills in response to probing questions.
- respond to peers’ thinking through reflection and further questions.
Model Lessons
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Quadratic Functions: Every Graph Tells a Story
Students will use the say something protocol to respond to questions and discuss their thinking related to a graph presented.
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WWI Collaboration 45a
Students will use the say something protocol to respond to questions and discuss their thinking related to a graph presented.
Videos
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Math ES 1196-3
In this video, the teacher leads a differentiated small group through building an understanding of the AKS through manipulatives and purposeful questioning.
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Math HS 1207-11
In this video, the students work to explain their solutions while the teacher asks follow up questions for clarification.
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Math HS 1207-2
In this video, the teacher scaffolds student learning through purposeful questioning.
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Math HS 1207-4
In this video, students exchange their ideas in response to the teacher's probing question regarding the math images.
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Math HS 1207-8
In this video, the teacher poses questions for students to analyze and discuss their mathematical thinking.
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Math MS 1200-3
In this video, the teacher leads a small group to help students identify and correct misconceptions through intentional questioning skills.
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Math MS 1200-4
In this video, the students work in collaborative groups to solve a task and the teacher poses questions to students to deepen their understanding of the concept.
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For any questions with this guide or its content, please call Instructional Support at (678) 301-6804.