Go Deeper!

As you practice asking open ended questions (questions that require an answer of more than one word), try going deeper.

At our reflective practice group, we practiced this.  We started with a question that just floated on the surface.  A question that didn’t really make the child think – but just recall or quickly answer.

Example At the block area, the teacher asks: “What are you building?”  Child answers: “A store”

 

Then we took the same scenario and went a little deeper.  A question that make the child think at least a little.  Example:  Teacher asks:  “What kind of a store are you building?”  Child answers: “A pet store”

 

Then we practiced going deeper still.  A question that requires that the child figure something out, think for themselves, problem solve or use reasoning skills.   Example:  Teacher asks: “What are the different parts of a pet store?”

 

Use your own scenarios.  Start of the surface, then go a bit deeper, then deeper still.  It is those deep questions that we want to use to help children develop thinking skills.