Blog Post #4

What do we need to know about questions to be an effective teacher?

Why do we ask questions? Is there a right or wrong way to phrase a question? How do questions help you become an effective teacher? Before reviewing the material for this blog post, I never thought about "how" a question should be asked. According to The Right Way to Ask Questions in the Classroom, there is a method to asking questions which causes students to really think about the answer. In this article, Ben Johnson explains that we should ask a question, pause for three seconds, then call on a specific child. I think this is a great way for teachers to engage students. By using Johnson's method, all of the students will be formulating an answer in their mind while they wait to see who the teacher calls.

Another tip educators should be aware of about asking questions can be found in the article Asking Questions to Improve Learning. It states that responding effectively is just as important as the question itself. We should allow our students time to think on their own, be respectful by not interrupting, and act interested in their answer whether it is correct or incorrect. I believe this is very important, because students will stop engaging in conversation if we act like we do not care. I also found the diagram in this article very beneficial, so I have shared it below.

Source: The Teaching Center

According to Three Ways to Ask Better Questions in the Classroom, there are three things we must do to improve the way we approach a question. First, we must prepare questions. I personally think this is a great idea. If the teacher asks a list of prepared questions rather than questions that come up at the spur of the moment, it will create less confusion for the students. Also, planning to ask a question at a certain time can make a huge difference. Secondly, we should play with our questions. Playing with questions simply means leaving a question unanswered and then coming back to it after the students have been given time to think. This encourages them to seek information for themselves. Finally, we need to preserve good questions. For example, if a student asks a good question in one class, share it with your next class when the time is appropriate. This shows the students that you value their opinions and questions. I will definitely be using the tips I learned from this source and the sources mentioned above for asking questions in my future classroom.