quality questioning for middle school classrooms

Mary Sarli, 2011Mary Sarli, 2011

Quality Questioning Quality Questioning for for

Middle School Middle School ClassroomsClassrooms

Mary Sarli & Nancy TrappMary Sarli & Nancy Trapp

Institute for Public School InitiativesInstitute for Public School Initiatives

University of TexasUniversity of Texas


Traveling down the road…Traveling down the road…

Have you ever been traveling Have you ever been traveling in a car and the road was straight in a car and the road was straight and smooth?and smooth?It’s great, isn’t it! It’s great, isn’t it! No problems! (But sometimes it No problems! (But sometimes it is boring.)is boring.)



Have you ever been traveling Have you ever been traveling and you saw mountains and hills and you saw mountains and hills ahead?ahead?You knew the scenery would be You knew the scenery would be great but it might be rough going! great but it might be rough going!



That’s how teaching is!That’s how teaching is!Sometimes it’s easy to travel Sometimes it’s easy to travel but it might be boring.but it might be boring.Other times it’s an exciting Other times it’s an exciting experience but it might be harder experience but it might be harder to travel! to travel!



Teaching kids to think is just Teaching kids to think is just like that! like that! Sometimes it’s easy and Sometimes it’s easy and sometimes it’s hard but it’s sometimes it’s hard but it’s rewarding!rewarding!Let’s start by learning about Let’s start by learning about HOTS!HOTS!


Higher Order Thinking Skills


HOTSHOTS

What are “Higher Order What are “Higher Order Thinking Skills”? Thinking Skills”? HOTS are ways to engage HOTS are ways to engage students in really thinking.students in really thinking.There are actually two different There are actually two different systems to classify HOTS.systems to classify HOTS.


HOTSHOTS

One system is based on One system is based on Benjamin Bloom’s work. The Benjamin Bloom’s work. The second system is based on second system is based on Erickson’s Levels of Complexity.Erickson’s Levels of Complexity.


Six Levels of Thinking Evaluation

Lower Levels: Synthesis

K, C, A

Higher Levels: Analysis

S, A, E

Application

Comprehension

Knowledge

Bloom’s TaxonomyBloom’s Taxonomy


Four Levels of Complexity

Erickson’s Levels of ComplexityErickson’s Levels of Complexity


Bloom’s and Erickson’sBloom’s and Erickson’s

These two systems can work in These two systems can work in conjunction so that learning can conjunction so that learning can be found on Bloom’s Taxonomy be found on Bloom’s Taxonomy and Erickson’s Levels of and Erickson’s Levels of Complexity at the same time with Complexity at the same time with a matrix.a matrix.


Evaluation

Synthesis

Analysis

Application

Comprehension

Knowledge

Facts Topics Concepts Generalizations/

Principles



ExamplesExamples

Math – What is 12 x 3?Math – What is 12 x 3?Science – What are the 3 layers of Science – What are the 3 layers of the earth?the earth?Social Studies – What year did the Social Studies – What year did the 13 colonies declare independence?13 colonies declare independence?


Evaluation

Synthesis

Analysis

Application

Comprehension

Knowledge


Principles



ExamplesExamples

Math – Compare and contrast a Math – Compare and contrast a rhombus with a trapezoid.rhombus with a trapezoid.Science – What are the differences Science – What are the differences between acids and bases?between acids and bases?Social Studies – Explain the reasons Social Studies – Explain the reasons why Texas declared independence from why Texas declared independence from Mexico.Mexico.


Evaluation

Synthesis

Analysis

Application

Comprehension

Knowledge


Principles



ExamplesExamples

Math – Why were personal computers Math – Why were personal computers invented and how have they assisted invented and how have they assisted society?society?Science – What do you feel is the most Science – What do you feel is the most valuable consequence of protecting the valuable consequence of protecting the environment?environment?Social Studies – What is your opinion of Social Studies – What is your opinion of states’ rights in regard to education?states’ rights in regard to education?


State AssessmentsState Assessments

How about the new STARR tests?How about the new STARR tests?We don’t have any samples yet.We don’t have any samples yet.Where do we expect the new Where do we expect the new STARR items to be on this grid?STARR items to be on this grid?


Evaluation

Synthesis STAAR Problems

Analysis

Application

Comprehension

Knowledge


Principles



So if the new STARR tests will probably require that student work at Concept Level and Above and at Application Level and above, how can we change what we do to meet the needs of our students?



Thinking and Questioning Thinking and Questioning


To think is to question.To think is to question.

John DeweyJohn Dewey


Motivates studentsStimulates high level thinkingEncourages creativityEnhances self conceptEnhances communication.Helps avoid mistakes.

QuestioningQuestioning


Open-ended questions without yes/no answers

Questions that relate to students’ lives and interests

Questions that cause students to make connections between disciplines

Quality Questioning includes…


Student-generated questionsA balance of convergent and divergent

questionsAdequate wait timeTeacher not answering questionsFollow-up responses

Quality Questioning includes…


Think: Teacher asks the question

Pair: Students respond in pairs to the question

Share: Students then group share

Think, Pair, Share


“Schools can no longer function as filling stations to which young people drive up, receive the knowledge they need for a working lifetime, and then

drive away.”

Nancy Johnson, former U.S. representative


Active questioning: students make up the questions

Passive questioning: teacher asks questions; students answer

You want more active questioning in your classes!

Types of Questions


When students do not ask questions, both teaching and

learning suffer.

J. T. Dillon. 2010


Reproductive: ask students to reproduce something they already know or should know

Productive: ask students to brainstorm as many different ideas as possible – no right/no wrong answers

BrainstormingBrainstorming


Mind MapsThinking MapsVenn DiagramsFrayer Model (vocabulary)TimelinesDiagrams

Graphic Organizers


The question is more important than the answer. Once a question is answered, the

inquiry process stops.

Socrates


Every IQ test has compare/contrast questions (analogies).

With compare/contrast questions, you are stimulating thinking, but also checking for comprehension.

Compare and Contrast


Compare (like) How is________ like__________?

Contrast (different)What makes_________ different

from_____?Move from the concrete to the

abstract

Compare and Contrast


A reader with no questions might just as well abandon the

book.

Harvey and Goudvis, 2000


Viewpoint/InvolvementOpen door to motivation because of

involvement

Feelings, Opinions, Personification


In your opinion, should state governments pass a law forcing bicycle riders to wear helmets?

Opinion Example


How would a flagpole feel about a 1000 pound flag?

Personification Example


Students should feel proud they have a question rather than pleased that they have an

answer.

Janice Szabos


Prediction/Imagination or “What would happen if…” questions can be used to develop an entire unit of study.

After a question is posed, students are encouraged to brainstorm in large groups, small groups, or partners.

After the list is generated, try a first hand experience to generate more ideas.

“Dig deep.”

Prediction/Imagination Questions


What would happen if human

beings had no thumbs?



MathWhat would happen if we did

not know how to multiply?What would happen if no one

used the order of operations?



Social StudiesWhat would happen if the US system

of checks and balances was altered by eliminating one branch of government?

What would happen if Puerto Rico became the 51st state?



Language ArtsWhat would happen if punctuation

marks were never used?What would happen if the setting of

The Alamo had been Dallas, Texas?



ScienceWhat would happen if there were

no scientific method?What would happen if there were

no wind?



Look at your handout called Questioning for Quality Thinking and Strategies to Extend Student Thinking.

Questioning/Strategies Cards


When printed double-sided on cardstock these provide a concrete reminder to include quality thinking in the classroom.

Teachers can put them in every textbook, notebook, and on their desk to remind them.



Some quality thinking questions:

K – DescribeC – Retell in your own wordsA – How is this related to that?



A – What are the parts or features of this?

S – What ideas can you add to this?

E – What do you think about this?



Some strategies to extend student thinking:

Call on students randomlyRemember “wait time”Allow for student callingAsk students to “unpack their

thinking”



Most textbooks and

supplemental materials

do NOT have quality

questioning strategies so you can’t depend on those to help you with quality questioning.


Practice with Thinking SkillsPractice with Thinking Skills

• Take out the hand-out with the prompts.

• Choose one prompt and write questions on the appropriate levels.

• Share your questions with someone near you.



The important thing is not to stop questioning.

Albert Einstein


Questions or Comments?Questions or Comments?

Contacts:

Mary [email protected] 210-854-7725 (cell)Nancy [email protected]


References:References:

Center for Development and Learning. (2010). Higher order thinking. Retrieved from http://www.cdl.org/resource-library/articles/highorderthinking.php

Dillon, J. (2010) Using diverse styles of teaching. Retrieved from http://faculty.ed.uiuc.edu/westbury/JCS/VOL30/dillon.html

Harvey, S. & Goudvis, A. (2000). Strategies that work: Teaching comprehension to enhance understanding. Portland, ME: Stenhouse.

Multiple Methods of Assessment. (2010). Retrieved from http://xnet.rrc.mb.ca/glenh/hots.htm

Teacher Tap. (2007). Critical and creative thinking – Bloom’s taxonomy. Retrieved from http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic69.htm

quality questioning for middle school classrooms

Documents

ericksonsmary sarli

skillsmary sarli

ahigher levels

social studies

higher order

benjamin blooms work

hotsone system

different systems