question webs

Question webs are a way for students to focus on a specific question or topic. I plan to use question webs with my students for social studies. We are starting to learn about the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the three branches of government. My students will get in small groups and be responsible for coming up with their own question to research. We will do the question webs after we have studied the topic a little bit. I want to do the question webs after we have discussed the topics somewhat so the students will be able to come up with high-level questions. But, I don't want to discuss the material so much that my students have enough answers already. I will have some research questions available in case some groups are having difficulty coming up with questions on their own. The questions can't be too thin, because students will still need to do enough research on their question. I'll make sure to approve the student group questions before they begin their research. After student groups do their research, students will present their findings to the rest of the class.

Reading With a Question in MInd

As we approach our unit on the solar system, I think about the one question that I am always asked, "Why isn't Pluto a planet anymore?" This question will be a perfect example of "Reading with a question in mind."
As we read and research the planets, we can complete a Think Sheet about the planets and add to it information that we learn that would help us answer our lingering question. It would lead directly into researching other questions that come up and aligns to the CCSS pertaining to research.

Looking forward. . .the more we learn, the more we wonder

Within chapter 8 of question, the purpose of wondering is discussed. Having children wondering as we learn new information, they ask a lot of questions. Wondering should be a second nature to students. By talking as they think, draw and write down information they are learning. Having the ability to wonder and question allows students to independently research. I have contemplating doing a science fair project this year. This area of wonder would be a great way for students to tie in what they are thinking about and investigate for further exploration.

Questioning That Leads to Inferential Thinking

During my lesson over questioning that leads to inferential thinking, I first tell students what I am thinking and questions I have about what I am reading. I have been integrating this reading strategy into math problem solving questions. When I read a problem solving question aloud to my class that sounds very confusing, I first ask them questions that I am also wondering about myself. For example, what is the question I'm really suppose to be solving? or what information/words are used that I don't need to be paying attention to? Then I allow them to ask questions/share about how they think they could solve the problem and how they couldn't solve the problem. I believe having them share ideas and think about different questions to the solve the problems, makes students better thinkers and better problem solvers.

Thoughts on State Assessments

When preparing for State assessment this year, my class used the Read, Write, and Talk - Stop Think and React strategy. The students read an article on Testing Tips. The student jotted down their thinking as they read the article. The kids did a great job of stating their opinions throughout the article. Next they wrote thick and tin questions in the margins of the article. The students did a great job of asking thought provoking questions. They asked things like, "Why do the teachers get so worried about the tests?" and "Why is the government involved in what we are doing in our classroom?" The discussion that followed was very interesting and beneficial! It really helped my students relax before the tests began.

Questioning During Science National Geographic

In a National Geographic Magazine. I read one of the articles aloud. While I was reading it, I would stop and tell them a question that I wondered about. I would stop every once in awhile showing different ways of wondering and asking questions...like "I knew that, but I didn't know... I wonder how...." "That's cool, but did it..." We discussed how we know about more subjects than others, but even when we think we know a lot, we still have questions. Or while we're reading, we read about things that make us wonder or have questions that remained unanswered. I handed out sticky notes and said they were going to read another article and as they came upon something that made them wonder or have more questions, to write that on the sticky note and put beside the article. The students also noticed as they read, that some of their questions were answered later as they were reading the article. When we were done, we read the article together and stopped every once in awhile when a student would share their thoughts, wonders, or questions about it. The National Geographic magazine worked really well because it is full of great photos and interesting topics. This one was especially interesting talking about how living animals/plants live in weird/extreme places (like in poisonous caves etc) and how impossible it seems. We then talked about how these questions would lead us to do more research or in depth study about our questions. If I or a student didn't have an answer, I encouraged them to go home and search on the internet for the answers so they could share what they learned with the class the next day.