1. Teaching Science to Every Child: Using Culture as a Starting Point
Chapter 7
Questioning Strategies within Ambitious Science Teaching
© 2018 Taylor & Francis

2. Chapter 7 Topics Behaviorism and Questioning
Teacher Questioning Strategies
How to Ask Questions
Responding to Student Responses
Using Questions to Encourage Discussion
Questioning Strategies and Diverse Populations
© 2018 Taylor & Francis

3. Behaviorism as a Narrow Approach to Questioning
Stimulus  Response  Feedback
Question  Response  Evaluate
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4. Teacher Questioning Strategies
Convergent: single answer expected
Divergent: multiple reasonable responses
Questions can be used to check on child’s ideas
Questioning to nudge students in a direction
Question type varies based upon purpose
Questions can ask students to transfer knowledge
There is no uniformly good type of question
© 2018 Taylor & Francis

5. How to Ask Questions
Beyond knowing What questions and When to ask them, it is important to appreciate How to ask
A pause of just a few seconds after asking a question but before calling on a student gives time to think: Wait Time One
Wait Time One is difficult if you equate teaching with talking. The time to compose a response only requires a short silence
While it may feel awkward at first, Wait Time One is sufficiently effective that it can become a good questioning habit
© 2018 Taylor & Francis

6. Responding to Student Responses
Provide specific feedback and not vague praise. Help everyone who heard the answer know what made the answer correct
Follow-up with Wait Time Two—this can encourage more complete responses and cause others to share their ideas
For convergent questions that are plainly wrong, it is appropriate to give feedback with a gentle “no”
Other responses including probing (digging in), rephrasing (tweaked question), and redirecting (bouncing question to someone else)
© 2018 Taylor & Francis

7. Wait Time within Questioning
Wait Time One: 3 to 5 seconds before calling on someone
Wait Time Two: 3 second pause (or less) after answer
Wait Time leads to more complete and correct responses
Wait Time allows for wider participation in discussions
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8. Encouraging Discussions
Create a climate where it is okay to take risks
Pose questions that do not have an obvious answer
Invite a range of students to contribute
Strive to keep the discussion close to chosen theme
Encourage students to use accurate language
Claims should be supported by evidence
© 2018 Taylor & Francis

9. Questioning and Diversity
Everyone should feel okay with contributing
Science talk is a distinct genre
Think•Pair•Share gives practice with talking
Guard against low expectations
Be thoughtful about when to correct grammar
© 2018 Taylor & Francis

10. Chapter 7 Summary Behaviorism is a narrow approach to questioning
Vary questions according to phase of learning cycle
Recognize that how questions are asked is important
Support and build upon student responses
Questioning can signal a larger group discussion
Make adjustments so all students can participate
© 2018 Taylor & Francis