Questioning

Description

Learners pose and answer questions that clarify meaning and promote deeper understanding of the text. Questions can be generated by the learner, a peer or the teacher.

Example Questions / statements

• What do I like about it so far?
• Why did they write that?
• Why are they acting that way?
• Why describe it that way?

 Teaching Ideas

 

I wonder

How to do it?

 

When students learn to ask questions of themselves, they remember more and become fully engaged with the text.

Students create " I wonder" statements before, during and after reading.

 

Before reading - Students look at the cover of a book / headings/ graphics / pictures and think of ways to complete the stem:

 

I Wonder..............................................................................................................................................

 

I Wonder...............................................................................................................................................

I Wonder ...............................................................................................................................................

During reading - Students stop at least twice during reading to generate more "I wonder" statements.

I Wonder...................................................................................................................................................

I Wonder...................................................................................................................................................

I Wonder...................................................................................................................................................


After reading - Students are given time to reflect on the text and consider then consider additional "I Wonder" statements that reflect the content etc.

I Wonder...................................................................................................................................................

I Wonder...................................................................................................................................................

I Wonder...................................................................................................................................................

 

How did it go?
This was used as part of an English lesson - using a picture book story. Students were excellent at creating statements and predicting the plot. This teaching idea also helped students with MAKING CONNECTIONS with the text.

Materials
Handouts ( On U drive)


Fact or Fib
This strategy is fun, a stretch for understanding and a great way for students to celebrate the efforts of their peers! Students utulize this strategy to reflect  upon a unit of study, a section from a text, a theme or a current event.

How to do it?
1. Students read a text. They are then asked to write down some facts from the text - Usually five or six - depending on the length of the text.
2. They then need to decide whether they will keep the fact as it is, or turn it into a "fib."
For Example -
Fact - "Bat wings do not have skin on them." "Fact or Fib?"
Answer - Fib. "They do have thin, flexible skin, not feathers."

Fact - "The Jolly Roger flag, with its black background and white skull and crossbones, was designed to be scary."Fact or Fib"
Answer - Fact. " It was designed to be scary - This flag was not used by all pirates, usually it was only flown by those sailing in the Spanish Main."

3.The students fold 5 x 7 cards or coloured paper in half, writing their statement on the front and their answers inside.

4. Students read their statements aloud, the class says whether or not it is a fact or fib.

How did it go?
This strategy was used in a maths class. The year nine students were starting a new topic on Probability. They were given an article that discussed the impact problem gambling has on individuals and society. The students were engaged and enjoyed "teaching" one another.

Handy Hints
Give students a section of the text each so that they are not overlapping with the facts that they use.

Materials
Coloured paper or card to fold and write on