Blog Post #4

With this assignment, I learned so much that I did not previously know about asking questions. Many times, asking a question is not something you put much thought into. A question comes to mind, and you ask it. I knew there was a strategy to a teacher asking questions, but I didn't know there were so many right and wrong ways a teacher could go about asking a question. We were just discussing this topic in my EDU 301 class on tuesday. Mrs. Vitulli was talking to the class about waiting time between asking a question and moving on to your next subject. She said this gives your students time to think over the material that was just discussed, and to really think about whether or not they have questions. I believe that being able to effectively ask questions is a very important skill for teachers, because asking questions is how we learn. It also shows if a student has an understanding of what is being taught. if you think about it, aren't the tests students take weekly just a series of questions about the material that was just taught to them? Useful tips I found from the sources given to us this week was learning how to prepare and play with a question. Instead of asking "Does everyone understand?", try asking a specific question about what was being taught. Have you ever noticed how detailed the questions at the end of a chapter in a textbook are? The textbook doesn't ask "Do you understand? Great! Read chapter two." The writers of the chapter sit back and take their time to think of detailed questions that make you think and really show understanding. Another tip I found helpful was the tip about playing with your question. Your question should be thought provoking and not mundane. You want to make questions detailed, but not so long and confusing that your students immediately lose interest. Try asking a specific question before you even start teaching, and when you are done, ask the class "Who thinks they know the answer to the question I asked before the lesson started?" This is a good way to keep children focused and listening. We also want to try to convey the message that questions are important. We should teach our students that there is no better way to learn than asking questions. We should teach them that not understanding and getting confused happens to everyone, and anytime they need help to just ask. Usually if they are confused, they aren't the only student that is confused and their question may even help a fellow student.



Three Ways to Ask Better Questions

The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom