Blog #6

Asking questions: What is the right questions and when do you ask them?

In Questioning Styles and Strategies Dr. Harvey Silver broke down his questioning into a block system called a Comprehension Menu. It has four main topics Mastery, Understanding, Interpersonal, and Self-Expressive. I enjoyed watching the students answer his questions it was good to see that Dr. Silver allowed them to be themselves. He asked the class questions about a book called Bridge to Terabithia.

His first question he asked was he asked the class to describe Terabithia. Under each question he had teaching techniques come across the screen. The first technique he used is called Provisional writing and cueing which allows the children time to answer the question. Then he uses the Think Pair Share which is where he lets the students speak with their fellow classmates about how they would describe Terabithia and if they had something in common they had to check it. After doing that he uses the Random Calling technique just to start off the answering process after the first student answers. He then Surveys the class by asking the class if anyone else has the same thing. Then he uses the Student Calling technique, and instructs her to call on another student so they can tell what they wrote. Again he Surveys the class, then uses the Random Calling technique once again. He gives good feedback to all the students who described what they saw. He then asks the class does anyone else have something that hasn't been mentioned.

The next question Dr. Silver asked was and understanding question and it was. What effect did Terabithia have on Jesse and Leslie’s relationship? He waited a good ten seconds using the technique called Wait Time. He called on a student whom answered the question and because her answer was a bland one. He then used the Probing technique by asking her (in what way?) causing her to explain her answer more. After surveying the class about how well they know another person after spending time with them. He calls on another student, and the student uses a technique called Notice how the student echoes the question.

During the Self-Expressive questioning he asked the class to draw a picture of Terabithia. He gives the class several minutes to draw their pictures. Afterwards he has some students tell what they drew. Listening to them as they tell Dr. Silver what they put on their papers is really cool and fun to listen too I had my children do this after we read the book and I enjoyed their responses got different results but enjoyed it none the less.

While doing the Interpersonal questioning Dr. Silver asked the class what they like best about Terabithia. Using the technique called Learning Log he tells them to write it down in their notebooks. During this he asked if anyone knew what it was like to act different around other people because the student named Jason mentioned that people could be themselves. Using the Clarifying technique. Then he has a student use the Physical Representation technique to show what a creature would look like if they came from Terabithia.

Listening to this was really fun and interesting not just for me but for my children as well. I learned a lot about this strategy and technique when it comes to asking the right questions