Introduction to Questioning Using Self-Questioning to support Comprehension

Double-click to enter text What is Self-Questioning? Self-questioning is a strategy that involves querying yourself before, during, and after you read to make meaning of text. It is part of active reading. For skilled readers, questioning becomes automatic—they might not even realize they are doing it.

What Happens When Students Use Questioning? Before they start reading, skilled readers ask themselves, “What is this about? Why am I reading this?” This helps them be clear on the purpose of reading. During reading, skilled readers ask themselves questions to check their understanding and stay on course. After reading, they ask questions to recheck and reflect on what they learned.

How is Questioning Important? Encourages readers to deeply engage with and absorb the meaning of text. Helps readers tap into and build upon their background knowledge. Supports the development of other comprehension skills, such as summarizing.

Encourages readers to deeply engage with and absorb the meaning of text. Helps readers tap into and build upon their background knowledge. Supports the development of other comprehension skills, such as summarizing. How Does Questioning Help Students? Gives students strategies to help them figure out when text does not make sense. Provides students with the tools they need to tackle confusing or unclear text head on and make sense of it. Helps students feel less frustrated and become more confident, resourceful readers and learners.

What Do I Need to Help Students Successfully Use this Practice? Clear explanations about why and how to ask themselves questions as they read. Model the three types of questions (literal, inferential and evaluative) for your students. Lots of opportunities to practice using questioning with many types of texts.

Double-click to enter text HOW CAN I SUPPORT STUDENTS' USE OF QUESTIONING?

Double-click to enter text Activities Before Reading Encourage students to ask themselves questions such as the following: What do I think the text will be about based on the information I see right away? (headers, type of text, images, etc.) What do I already know about the topic? (Draw out their background knowledge.) What is my purpose for reading this text? What do I predict will happen?

Activities During Reading Encourage students to self-check by asking themselves: Does what I’m reading make sense? What am I supposed to be learning? Where am I getting stuck? How does this relate to what I already know?

Activities After Reading Ask students to share the questions they posed to themselves with each other. Encourage students to discuss when and how they posed questions to themselves. Identify questions that students can ask themselves to recheck and reflect.