Introduction to the Question Formulation Technique (QFT) Strengthening Parents’ Skills to Ask the Right Questions

Overview Housekeeping About the Right Question School-Family Partnership Strategy An experience in the Question Formulation Technique (QFT) Unpacking the QFT Integrating the QFT Closing Remarks & Assignments Q & A

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An Interactive Webinar Time: Time’s up! 5 s

Let’s see who’s here! Please share in the chat box: Your name The region you are from Make sure you are sending the message to everyone!

After the Webinar Fill out evaluation Download free resources https://goo.gl/wwZA4Q Complete assignments to obtain certificate of participation Look out for email announcements and stay in touch!

Before we start… Please select three most common things you do when working with parents: Offer advice Provide information Have them prepare their own questions Give them tips for supporting their children’s education Encourage them to ask questions Teach them parenting and other skills Give them suggestions on how to partner with you Provide a process so they can focus on key decisions Other? (Please list) Share the number of your three choices in the chat box. Time: Time’s up! 30 s

Honoring the original source: Parents in Lawrence, Massachusetts, 1990 “We don’t go to the school because we don’t even know what to ask.”

Components of the Strategy The strategy has three components that can be used separately or as a unit. The Question Formulation Technique (QFT) The Support, Monitor, and Advocate Model The Framework for Accountable Decision-Making

Outcomes Parents have foundational skills they can use to partner and advocate more effectively Parents and school staff are resources for each other on behalf of children Educators and school staff have tools and a strategy to engage and prepare parents to partner more effectively

An integrated strategy A Strategy, NOT a program Complementary to existing programs

An Experience in the Question Formulation Technique (QFT)

Rules for Producing Questions ASK AS MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU CAN DO NOT STOP TO ANSWER, JUDGE OR DISCUSS WRITE DOWN EVERY QUESTION EXACTLY AS STATED CHANGE ANY STATEMENTS INTO QUESTIONS What might be difficult about following these rules? Time: Time’s up! 30 s

Question Focus (QFocus) Some parents are not asking questions.

Some parents are not asking questions. QFocus: Some parents are not asking questions. Follow the Rules Ask as many questions as you can. Do not stop to answer, judge, or discuss. Write down every question exactly as it comes to mind Change any statements into questions. Number the Questions Time: Time’s up! 3 min

Improving questions: Identify closed and open-ended questions Definitions: Closed-ended questions can be answered with a “yes” or “no” or with a one-word answer. Open-ended questions require more explanation. Identify your questions as closed-ended or open-ended by marking them with a “C” or an “O.” Time: Time’s up! 1 min

Advantages & Disadvantages Closed-ended questions Advantages Time: Time’s up! 30 s

Advantages & Disadvantages Closed-ended questions Disadvantages Time: Time’s up! 30 s

Advantages & Disadvantages Open-ended questions Advantages Time: Time’s up! 30 s

Advantages & Disadvantages Open-ended questions Disadvantages Time: Time’s up! 30 s

Work with Closed and Open-Ended Questions Change one closed-ended question so it becomes open- ended. Change one open-ended question so it becomes closed- ended. Add the new questions to the bottom of your list of questions. Closed Open Open Closed Time: Time’s up! 1.5 min

Prioritizing Questions Review your list of questions Choose the three questions you consider most important. Keep in mind your QFocus: Some parents are not asking questions. After prioritizing consider… Why did you choose those three questions? Where are your priority questions in the sequence of your entire list of questions? Time: Time’s up! 1.5 min

Action Plan Next Steps: What information do you need to get? What are specific things you will do to get the information? Time: Time’s up! 1.5 min

Share Your Work Please share: Your three priority questions Your rationale for selecting those three Number of your priority questions in your sequence Your action plan Time: Time’s up! 2.5 min

Reflection: What did you learn? How can you use it? Time: Time’s up! 1 min Time: Time’s up! 1 min

Parent Reflections Ask the right questions to be sure I understand the standards expected of my child Communicate better with my child’s teachers Have a plan of action when it comes to my child’s education Monitor my child’s education more closely and ask questions to obtain answers

Let’s peek inside the black box The Question Formulation Technique (QFT) Let’s peek inside the black box

The QFT, on one slide… Question Focus Produce Your Questions Follow the rules Number your questions Improve Your Questions Categorize questions as closed or open-ended Change questions from one type to another Prioritize Your Questions Share & Discuss Next Steps Reflect Ask as many questions as you can Do not stop to discuss, judge or answer Record exactly as stated Change statements into questions Closed-Ended: Answered with “yes,” “no” or one word Open-Ended: Require longer explanation

Three Thinking Abilities in One Process CONVERGENT THINKING DIVERGENT THINKING METACOGNITIVE THINKING

Integration Opportunities…

Parent Engagement Activities

An Integration Example Parent Teacher Conference A teacher helps a mother generate questions to address an issue Question Focus: Sam seems to be having trouble doing his homework.

An Integration Example (Continued) Is he behaving? Is he causing problems? Is he doing his homework? What do you mean by “trouble”? How do you know he’s having trouble? When did this start? Did he do his homework before?  Is he getting punished for not doing his homework? What’s going to happen to him? Why do you think he’s having trouble? X What should I do to make sure he does his homework? X What happens when he doesn’t do his homework? Will he be held back? X

Developing Partnerships

Facilitation

Tips for Question Focus (QFocus) Design It should not be a question. The simpler the better. One word can make a huge difference. “What questions do you have about your child’s school environment?” “Your child’s school environment” V. “Sam seems to be having trouble focusing in class and doing his homework. I wonder if there is anything going on at home” “Sam seems to be having trouble doing his homework.” V. “Your child will be held back in the same grade for another year.” “Your child might be held back in the same grade for another year” V.

Facilitation Tips Introduce the process as quickly as possible Do not explain the question focus Do not stop to answer the questions as they are being produced Make sure to leave time for reflection

Facilitation Example

A Few Closing Words

See Chapter 6 on Septima Clark in Freedom Road: Adult Education of African Americans (Peterson, 1996). Democracy “We need to be taught to study rather than to believe, to inquire rather than to affirm.” - Septima Clark

Assignment Complete evaluation Watch videos https://goo.gl/forms/AVyG5QuFXOZXhhEU2 Watch videos Using the QFT with Individual Parents Watch the video Using the QFT with Groups of Parents Jot down your observations and reflections and submit to obtain certificate of participation. Complete Google Form, OR Type up your answers and send to siyi.chu@rightquestion.org

Certificate

Upcoming Webinars Webinar Series: Building Stronger School-Family Partnerships Speakers: Luz Santana & Siyi Chu Part 2 - The Support, Monitor & Advocate Model:  Three Key Roles Parents Can Play in Their Children's Education. Tues. March 12, 2019, 12:00 – 1:00 PM, CST Register now! Part 3 - The Framework for Accountable Decision Making: Strengthening Parents Skills to Participate in Decisions. Tues. April 16, 2019, 12:00 – 1:00 PM, CST Learn more: https://www.texasparent.org/webinar

Thank you. Now, some time for your questions Thank you. Now, some time for your questions. We are eager to connect with you and explore how we can support your work: Siyi.Chu@rightquestion.org Luz@rightquestion.org Register to access free resources at: www.rightquestion.org