1. Questioning Strategies to Deepen Comprehension
Presented By Angela Maiers, 2008

2. Curious Minds=Successful Minds

3. What Do Students Think?!?

4. Misconceptions Truths
Questions are done TO
readers
Questions are asked by
someone else (teacher)
Occur at the END of
reading
Used for assessment
purposes
Have a “right’ answer
Good readers spontaneously,
purposefully ask questions before,
during and after text
Good readers know asking questions
will deepen their understanding
Good readers have the knowledge
and ability to ask many different kinds
of questions to open meaning
Good readers use questions for many
different purposes.
Good readers understand some
answers are found in the text and
others they will need to infer

5. Language of Questioning
I wonder?
Why?
What does this mean?
Your question made me think of..?
How come…?
Why is it that…?
How is ______ like_________?
What would happen if?

6. Questioning… Actively asking yourself questions, searching
for answers before, during, and after reading.
I’m wondering…
I’m asking myself…
I am thinking and I wonder if…
©Maiers2007

7. What makes a good question a “GOOD” question?

8. A “GOOD” Question… Makes you think Can have more than one answer
Makes you reread to make sure
Can be asked in different ways
Can’t be answered just in the book
Makes you think about your life
Makes you want to read and know more
Makes you smarter!!!!

9. A “GOOD” question… Makes you think hard Can have more than one answer
Makes you reread the book
Can be asked in many different ways
Can not be answered just by using the book
Will need you to use your experiences and life
Makes you think about other books you’ve read before
Is not simple or quick; it is not just a one word answer
Makes you want to talk about it to see what they think

10. “Good” Questions… Make you explain with more than one word
Help you think deeper about the text
Promote discussion and sharing of others opinions
Are not answered quick
Can be asked in different ways
Are like a good workout-they are hard, but make you feel great after you answer them
Make you go “Hmmmmmm…”
Make you want to talk to someone
Go way beyond the book
Require you to think about the world and your life
Are very personal
The answer is flexible and can change when you discuss it
Make you think about other books you have read-help you to compare what you learned from other places
FEEL GOOD!!!!

11. Before and After Q? Before I Read During My Reading After Reading
REFLECTIONS:

13. Genius Questions What if…? Is ______ the reason for…?
I wonder why…? Can…?
If…? Would you rather…?
What is it that…? What would it take to…?
When is it…? Why is it that…?
Who could…? Would ______ be possible if…?
How is ____ like _____? Is it possible to…?
When is…? Could…?
What could happen if…? How can…?
If it were possible…? What is your opinion about…?
Are there…? Is it right to…?
Why is…? I wonder when…?
How…? I’m wondering if…?
Where did…? How could it…?
Do you…? Why are…?
Does it matter if…? If I ______, could_____?
When is it …? What can…?

14. Proficient Readers ask questions to…
Clarify meaning
Speculate about text not read
Determine an authors style, intent, purpose
Locate specific information
Focus attention
Stay engaged in text
Deepen their understanding to content
Make meaningful connections

15. Question Homework
Find the most interesting question left unanswered by the reading.
Identify the question the author was trying to answer.
Write a question that will demand at least 10 minutes of thought to answer.
Ask a question that is the “child” of a bigger question that can be identified.
Identify the most/least important question and why.
Write down three questions that bothered or stimulated you during the assignment?
Write three hypothetical (compare, inferential,…) questions.

16. Assess and Conference
Did you have a question before you started to read this text?
How is asking questions working for you ?
How do you plan to keep track of your questions?
How does that question affect you understanding of the text?
When you read____. What question came to mind?
What questions do you now have after rereading the text?
Do you notice yourself asking questions when your reading does not make sense?
How did questions help you to figure out meaning?
Do you have questions that you expect the author to answer?
If the author were here, what would you ask him/her?
What will you do with the questions you still have left after reading?
As I listen to your questions, I notice…

17. Questioning the Author Why do people always expect authors to answer questions. I am an author because I want to ask questions. If I had answers, I’d be a politician! -Eugene Ionic-
What do you think the author is trying to accomplish here?
Why did the author write_________?
If you could ask the author on question, what would it be?
Do you agree with the author’s main point?
How does the author feel about…?
What do you think is the question the text is trying to answer?
How does this information relate to what you know?
Do you detect bias in any part of the text?
What was intended by…?
Is the author credible?
How do you know?
What experiences do you think the author had in order to be qualified to write this piece?

18. Questioning the Author
What is the author trying to tell you?
Why is the author telling you that?
Is it said clearly?
How might the author have written it more clearly?
What would you have wanted to say instead?

19. Mini-Lessons for Questioning Instruction
I ask questions before, during and after I read.
I question the text while I read.
I question the writer of the text while I read.
I ask questions about myself while I read.
I ask questions that make me think deeper about the story or topic I am reading.
I recognize that the questions I asked may be answered in a variety of ways.
Read a mouthful and do the questioning; Read part of White socks; have them write questions and then sort the questions

20. Teaching as a Subversive Activity
Final Thought:
Once you have learned how to ask relevant and appropriate questions, you have learned how to learn and no one can keep you from learning whatever you want or need to know.
Neil Postman
Teaching as a Subversive Activity