Questioning by @sabato0612

Name: Daniel Sabato
Twitter name: @sabato0612
Sector: Secondary
Subject taught (if applicable): History
Position: Assistant Head
What is your advice about? Questioning

1: Moving from the ‘what’ to the ‘how’ and ‘why’ is the challenge for both staff and students. Questioning is a powerful tool to stretch and challenge our students.

2: Don’t ask too many questions, when often one will suffice.

3: Embrace the silence and let the students think. That period of time is essential, so let the suspense build before you take responses.

4: Vary the method of responses, hands up is certainly not a bad thing but do consider alternative ways to gather the ideas of the class.

5: Create and embed a culture where the students are comfortable enough to question each other, modelling the practice that you have demonstrated.

Questioning by @McGillycuddy101

Name: KMcGillycuddy
Twitter name: @McGillycuddy101
Sector: Secondary
Subject taught (if applicable): English
Position: SLT
What is your advice about? Questioning.

1: Plan 2 or 3 key questions in advance of the lesson as part of your planning.

2: Use questions as part of your differentiation. Think about questions for support / questions for challenge.

3: Allow students time to think/answer. Don’t let them get away with ‘dunno!’

4: Avoid asking generalised questions into the ether eg ‘Did you all get that?’

5: Make students explain, justify or exemplify the answer they have given.

Questioning by @craigos87

Name: Craig Jeavons
Twitter: @craigos87
Sector:  Secondary
Subject: Maths
Position: Curriculum Coordinator
5 Bits of Advice About: Questioning

1. ‘Why’ is the most powerful question you can ask. Never accept an answer, push for a solution.
2. To improve engagement pose the question, give thinking time, pick student A to answer, ask student B to comment on A’s response.
3. Throw some curveballs. Questions with 0s and 1s, letters instead of numbers or nasty looking questions with surprisingly simple answers- “So why did that work out so nicely?”
4. Move the goalposts. Change the problem, see if they can adapt their solution ‘what if that 5 was a -5?’ etc.
5. Record yourself in action. Turn voice record on your phone, chuck it in your pocket, listen back at your own convenience.