Powerful Questions to Get Students Thinking

I don't take credit for these questions, but just think how effective they can be in pretty much any discipline at school.  I have them posted and ask them to my students often.  My next job is to make sure each student has their own copy laminated and put on their own desk so they can ask each other the questions as they plan, discuss, ponder and create together.

I started off using them during math instructional time, often in a think-pair-share situation, sometimes in a whole group discussion, and sometimes with an individual student who is working through a challenge.

What about using this when defending your point of view in a debate?  How about using it to structure an essay?  How about as a pre-assessment when you want to find out what students know about a particular concept or skill?  How about as a simple summative task at the end of a unit, using the Lines of Inquiry to frame your questions?

You can use these questions as a teacher of five year olds or as a teacher of twelfth graders, equally effectively.  They transcend age and topic.  In fact, you can use them in your business or in a family discussion.

Love 'em!  Enough said.

The Thinking Questions

My very favorite visible thinking routine is probably the simplest one: the thinking questions.

What makes you say that?

What do you see/hear/read, etc that makes you say that?

What does that tell you, then?

I keep these questions laminated and have students use them with each other during discussions about ANY topic/subject/discipline.  It deepens their level of thinking and makes them justify their opinions.

The simple act of  just saying, "What makes you say that?" regularly in class is a big game-changer.  If you just start with that and make a point of doing it whenever you can, students will get used to it, and their thinking will automatically grow deeper with little planning on your part!

I also use these questions for writing prompts.  Below is a piece a student wrote regarding puberty using the thinking questions.  You can do the same with any topic.  This is written by a grade five student with quite strong writing skills, but I believe this sort of thinking, brought forth through speaking and writing can be encouraged and developed at any level.

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An Example of Using the “THINKING QUESTIONS” to write:

Introductory Sentence:

I think puberty is going to be a challenge.

What makes you say that?

From what we have read, it seems I am going to have to learn some new strategies for getting along with my parents, some new ways of communicating with my friends, plus I am going to be dealing with all my hormones at the same time.  I’m a bit worried about getting my period and all the stuff that goes along with that.

What do you see/hear/feel/read etc. that makes you say that?

I see people like my brother who are already in puberty and the way they act.  They try to be cool, but I can see that he feels insecure and uncomfortable with himself.  His voice is changing and he’s got pimples.  He sometimes talks to girls on the phone, but he always seems embarrassed around girls.

What does that tell you, then?

Watching my brother and other teenagers tells me it is going to be fun, especially since he gets to do way more things that I do, but also rather embarrassing and sometimes a struggle.

Final Paragraph:

I think puberty is going to be a challenge.  From what we have read, it seems I am going to have to learn some new strategies for getting along with my parents, some new ways of communicating with my friends, plus I am going to be dealing with all my hormones at the same time.  I’m a bit worried about getting my period and all the stuff that goes along with that.  I see people like my brother who are already in puberty and the way they act.  They try to be cool, but I can see that he feels insecure and uncomfortable with himself.  His voice is changing and he’s got pimples.  He sometimes talks to girls on the phone, but he always seems embarrassed around girls.  Watching my brother and other teenagers tells me it is going to be fun, especially since he gets to do way more things that I do, but also rather embarrassing and sometimes a struggle.