ESSENTIAL GUIDING QUESTIONS Rpp title 1 school November 28, 2012 Information from “big ideas – authentic education e-journal” & “The Hope foundation”

What is an essential question? It is important, vital, and at the heart of the matter – the essence of the issue. Broad in scope and timeless by nature, possibly arguable. Point to the big ideas of a subject and to the frontiers of technical knowledge. Historically important and “alive” in the field. LEARNING CORE CONTENT: it helps students make sense of important but complicated ideas, knowledge, and “know how findings” that may be understood by experts, but not yet grasped or seen as valuable by the learner. Big Ideas: e-Journal - What is an Essential Question by Grant Wiggins

A question is essential when it…… Causes genuine and relevant inquiry into the big ideas Provokes deep thought, lively discussion, sustained inquiry, & new understanding Requires students to consider alternatives, weigh evidence, support their ideas, & justify their answers Sparks meaningful connections with prior learning & personal experience Stimulates vital and on-going rethinking of ideas, assumptions, & prior lessons Naturally recurs, creating opportunities for transfer to other subjects & situations Big Ideas: e-Journal - What is an Essential Question by Grant Wiggins

What are essential guiding questions and how do they frame effective units of instruction? Guiding Questions: should be clearly visible & understandable for students when teaching every unit. Students should have the essential questions at the center of their learning and see them regularly. Tell students the purpose of their task. Each activity, lesson, reading assignment, or assessment should be focused around a guiding question so teachers have a commitment to what they are teaching and students have a purpose for what they are expected to accomplish. HOPE Foundation: What exactly are essential guiding questions & how do they frame effective units of instruction? By Kathy Glass

What are the differences between essential unit and lesson guiding questions? ESSENTIAL UNIT GUIDING QUESTIONS: are overarching, derived from the essential understandings, and transferrable LESSON GUIDING QUESTIONS: are necessary to introduce factual knowledge that builds the foundation for understanding the more complex essential unit guiding questions. By addressing these factually based questions, you are building the bricks for students to grasp the greater unit guiding questions. HOPE Foundation: What exactly are essential guiding questions & how do they frame effective units of instruction? By Kathy Glass

EXAMPLE OF UNIT & LESSON GUIDING QUESTIONS HOPE Foundation: What exactly are essential guiding questions & how do they frame effective units of instruction? By Kathy Glass

Distinguishing Features ESSENTIAL UNIT GUIDING QUESTIONS LESSON GUIDING QUESTIONS Begins with why or how Can’t be answered with a list or finite response More engaging than straightforward or factual Written in general terms Can foster transference & connections to other units of study Reflect the whole unit of study 1 or 2 concepts to form a relationship Begins with any type of question: who, what, where, when, how, why, is, does, etc… Elicits factual information and can be answered with list or finite response Written in specific terms Specific to a lesson, but support the unit questions 1 skill or concept per question HOPE Foundation: What exactly are essential guiding questions & how do they frame effective units of instruction? By Kathy Glass