Questions

Asking the right question at the right time is key to gaining insights into children's thinking. It helps us to avoid making assumptions about what and how they are learning and their feelings along the way. Asking the right question can help facilitate deeper and more reflective thinking. Asking the wrong question, too many questions or the right question at the wrong time can all stifle thinking and interrupt the flow of learning. It is important to observe and listen to children at play, in their inquiries, to make informed choices about what and when to ask, considering the purpose of the question. 

Those of you interested in different types and categories of questions might be interested in this blog. 

The Understanding Map developed by Project Zero also considers different lenses to question and teach for understanding. 

These types of questions are not the easiest for children to answer. A culture of thinking, as Ron Ritchart advocates, is required where this language and discourse is modelled and becomes the norm. 

Which questions are your "go to" prompts to engage young children in conversations about their learning?

Here are some of mine:

What do you notice?

What do you wonder?

How does it work?

Why?

How do you know?

What makes you say that?

What if...?

Tell me what you're up to. 

How might we find out?

What questions do you have?

Debatable questions using subjective words like good/best/most important