Asking Smart Questions

Determine what kind of question-asker you are and then learn what kinds of questions to ask and when from among 35 different types. Discover how to change the climate in your classroom so students will be ready to respond to various types of questions. You both will become more effective communicators. Good questions create excitement in the learning process and help produce good answers by:

stimulating thinking on many levels.

exploring new ways of viewing old ideas.

sharing existing attitudes, values or ideas.

stimulating group discussion.

Learn to:

cultivate a mind-set that recognizes and honors the wide variance in thinking styles.

model the kinds of questioning behavior you want your students to develop.

be clear about why you ask a particular question and what result you are seeking.

assess how well your questions work.

examine how you and your students can improve your skill sets.