Excellence in Education: Questioning Shells and Stems
The questions we ask affect the level of thinking. But an equally and even more evidence-based strategy is having students devise questions about their learning with correct solutions. Additionally, when students create the questions it provides us with a means to formatively assess their learning as their questions reveal their understanding. Questioning shells assist students in developing higher-order questions.
What are questioning shells?
Questioning shells are a partially scripted means of providing assistance to students in asking questions beyond factual recall. Expert teachers almost intuitively use questioning shells in their day-to-day teaching. Instead of asking, "Is 23 a prime number?" the expert teacher will ask, "Why is 23 a prime number?" or "Why is 23 a prime number and 24 not?"
Examples
Explain why...
How are....and...different?
What do you predict will happen next?
Can you explain how _______ affected ________?
How is _________ related to _________?
Many of us have the Bloom's taxonomy flip charts at our disposal. I found it helpful to produce questioning shells and stems charts and to laminate them for students. A simple Google search for Questioning Shells/Stems (DOK, Bloom's, etc.) will produce a ton of results. My stem cheat sheet had two sides, one for use by my history students and another for my reading students.
After creating questioning shells and distributing them to students, How Can Questioning Shells Be Used?
What are some ways that students can use questioning stems in your class?
What are questioning shells?
Questioning shells are a partially scripted means of providing assistance to students in asking questions beyond factual recall. Expert teachers almost intuitively use questioning shells in their day-to-day teaching. Instead of asking, "Is 23 a prime number?" the expert teacher will ask, "Why is 23 a prime number?" or "Why is 23 a prime number and 24 not?"
Examples
Explain why...
How are....and...different?
What do you predict will happen next?
Can you explain how _______ affected ________?
How is _________ related to _________?
Many of us have the Bloom's taxonomy flip charts at our disposal. I found it helpful to produce questioning shells and stems charts and to laminate them for students. A simple Google search for Questioning Shells/Stems (DOK, Bloom's, etc.) will produce a ton of results. My stem cheat sheet had two sides, one for use by my history students and another for my reading students.
After creating questioning shells and distributing them to students, How Can Questioning Shells Be Used?
- Use questioning shells as an introductory technique. The could be used as part of a K-W-L Chart or have students create questions before the lesson and have students create 3-5 questions that they would like answered. Have students share their questions and create a list of the top 10.
- Use questioning shells or stems with reading. This active reading technique can be used individually or in pairs. Using individually, provide students with question shells and a relevant reading and have students generate three or four thoughtful questions. These questions can be written down and later used to ask classmates. They could also be a leaping point for a classroom discussion or a Socratic Seminar.
- You can have students read quietly with pairs. Have students turn their chairs so they are near each others ears and have 1 student quietly read a section of the reading. After finishing the reading, the other student uses the question stems to ask a question which the reader then answers. This can also be done with 3 students with the 3rd student answering the question. Rotate rolls. (As a bonus, this is also a means of informally assessing student reading fluency and comprehension as you listen to the students reading and it lends itself to flexible grouping).
- At the end of a lesson, have students create 2-4 questions and then have students partner up to answer their questions.
What are some ways that students can use questioning stems in your class?
Need to Knows
February 19: Normal School Day
February 20-21: AdvancEd Visit Visitors will be viewing your classrooms and may ask to interview you during your planning period and may want to speak to your students.
February 23: End of Interim Period
February 28: Interim Grades in PowerSchool (9am)
Grade Change
Please use this link to submit Grade Change Forms online. If you have any questions about the form, please don’t hesitate to ask.
Please understand that if you change a grade in one term, it more than likely affected another term. Example, if a grade changes in the Q2 category, it will also affect the T2 grade. I will need all of the grade changes to be submitted. These changes can be made to a single form. Please make sure to indicate which term you are changing.
Graduation Gowns for Faculty
If you are a new teacher to Monticello and are in need of a gown, please fill out the form sent by Ms. Seale and return by February 23.
March 8: Parent-Teacher Conferences
Shout Outs
Thanks to everyone for making LoveFest 2018 a successful one. Your patience and participation were appreciated by our students. Thanks Ms. Meade and Ms. Lawrence for the organization of this event.
Field Trips
March 2: Adaptive PE Field Trip
Birthdays
Feb 21: Paul Shepherd
Feb 22: Najwa Tatby
Feb 23: Heather Charles, Kossi Djamessi (custodial)
Feb 25: Paul Jones, Krista Matheny, Joe Weaver
Useful Information
Activity Period Calendar : Club day with Club Pictures this Friday
Technology / Website Permission Request Form Please use this form to request use of a website or any resource that requires student log-in if the site is not already on the approved list. DART approved list
Morning Announcement Stream: http://streaming.k12albemarle.org/ACPS/links.htm Please be sure to have announcements cued and ready to go at 8:55 every morning.
Announcement Request: http://tinyurl.com/requestannouncement
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Seven Real-Life Skills Your Teenager Needs Before Going to College
2 Evidence-Based Learning Strategies
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