Chapter 3

Chapter 3 - Open-Ended Questions: Stretching Children’s Academic And Social Learning

Written by: Colleen Hand

So we now know that positive teacher language can help motivate our students especially when we connect students’ schoolwork with what they care most about in their larger lives. Chapter 3 discusses how teacher language can also stretch student’s curiosity, reasoning ability, creativity and independence so they can learn more broadly and deeply. How does this happen you ask? Well, open-ended questions, of course!!!

Open-Ended Questions:

• there’s no single right or wrong answer

• draw on student’s own thoughts, knowledge and feelings

• encourage students to be inquisitive

• are powerful because they support the natural way children learn

• promote children’s engagement

To promote student engagement try asking, “What do you want to try?” or “What might work?” or “What do you want to know about this?” These questions show that we trust in their ability to have good ideas, to think for themselves and to contribute in valuable ways to the class. I think that this is pretty important since they lead to the students being engaged and invested in the activities so I plan to make a list of open-ended questions that I can keep handy while I’m teaching.

I also thought it was interesting that open-ended questions lead to self-control. I don’t know about you, but self-control in the kindergarten classroom is a MUST for me ☺ Open-ended questions help children gain confidence in themselves. I really liked that. Wouldn’t we all want students with confidence? By asking the question, “What did YOU do that helped you learn these words?” it prompts the student to reflect on the fact that they learned the words as a result of something THEY did, and it pushes them to realize what they did was effective.

Here’s something to remember: should teachers stop asking Closed-Ended Questions? Of course not! Sometimes there’s a correct answer that we just want the students to know.

One really wonderful thing about asking an open-ended question is that we never know what we’ll hear in response. The essentials that apply to all open-ended questions are:

• Genuinely open up your curiosity

Being truly curious of children’s responses also means valuing their thinking processes!!!

• Clarify exactly what you’re asking for

• Use words that encourage cooperation, not competition

• Watch out for pseudo open-ended questions

I didn’t know what this meant at first but a pseudo open-ended question is one that sounds like an open-ended question but has behind it the teacher’s desire to hear a certain answer.

Here’s another interesting point: Wait Time Adds to the Power of Open-Ended Questions. Your pause time gives all children a chance to think about the question before the discussion takes off.