This year I have had a lot of conversations around the art of questioning. We often don't think about how we phrase our questions, we just ask them. But think about the power of purposeful questioning. Francis Hunkins states that "In a classroom atmosphere conducive to good questions and questioning, students realize a shared responsibility for their learning." Questions are a data gathering tool that can be used to guide instruction as well as provide insight to student schemas and understandings. When I attended the MYP Level I workshop, we did some extensive work on framing questions to guide curricular units and lessons, to which we were not allowed to lead the learner. Rather, foster the idea that there are no wrong answers. In fact, this is an integral part of the IB Mission statement noting that people, with their differences, can be right. Purposeful questioning allows us to provide rigor in the classroom through inquiry and advanced thinking - something we want for every student. The best part: it can be tailored to meet the needs of every student.
Want to know more, I recommend:
Quality Questioning - Research-Based Practice to Engage Every Learner by Jackie Walsh and Beth Sattes
or
Transforming the Classroom with Effective Questioning Practices
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About Me
- Ann M. McCarty
- I am entering my fifth year as Principal of Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School. This year we will continue to work on instruction through the implementation of Reader's Workshop and differentiation while finding ways for students to express their creativity and uniqueness with alternative assessments. We will continue to explore the IB Middle Years Programme and put an emphasis on the use of ACCESS to transform instruction. This year I will try to figure out what to do with my time now that dissertation is over. Once I do that, I will begin working on some articles involving young adolescents and their very important development.
My Education and Background
In March 2010, I successfully defended my dissertation and graduated from Virginia Tech in May. The three year Doctor of Education program at Virginia Tech was a wonderful educational experience that included a tremendous amount of work, collaboration, and patience. Additionally, networking and meeting other school professionals made problem solving and learning more interesting. An experience like no other!I am also a graduate of The Ohio State University and a
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