Questioning for Classroom Discussion: Purposeful Speaking, Engaged Listening, Deep Thinking

by Jackie Acree Walsh, Beth Dankert Sattes

What type of questioning invigorates and sustains productive discussions?

That's what Jackie Acree Walsh and Beth Dankert Sattes ask as they begin a passionate exploration of questioning as the beating heart of thoughtful discussions. Questioning and discussion are important components of classroom instruction that work in tandem to push learning forward and move students from passive participants to active meaning-makers.

Walsh and Sattes argue that the skills students develop through questioning and discussion are critical to academic achievement, career success, and active citizenship in a democratic society. They also have great potential to engage students at the highest levels of thinking and learning.

The extent to which this potential is realized, of course, depends on individual teachers who embrace these practices, make them their own, and realize that this process requires a true partnership with students.

With that in mind, Questioning for Classroom Discussion presents and analyzes the DNA of productive discussions—teacher-guided, small-group, and student-driven.

Genres: Education, Teaching

223 pages, Paperback

First published November 19, 2015

Reviews

[Adam Gutschenritter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gives some good tips on how to turn your partnering activities into tools to guide your students into the field of discussion, first as teacher, then as small groups and finally as a whole class. Looking forward to combining this with Make Just One Change: Teach Students to Ask Their Own Questions.

[Sarah Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Questioning strategies for teachers to equip students for meaningful classroom discussions. Great book for all content teachers looking to level up their craft and student learning! Fastest way to change a classroom: discourse!!!

[I Contain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent advice for educators wanting to start meaningful discussion around literature and research.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Those who know me know I love a good question, and that I believe questions to be the heart of good learning. This book, though highly affected by many modern assumptions that divide the human into unreal categories, still impresses the same assertion upon its reader. I found its practical helps useful in contemplating my own practices. Its emphasis on teaching students how to discuss things is valuable as well. Teachers would benefit from this book.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is perfect for a teacher planning a questioning forum in his or her classroom. There are many questioning strategies to help students dig deeper into content as well.


Study guide available online:
http://www.ascd.org/publications/book...

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is filled with simple strategies to help teachers engage students in class discussions. The ideas aren't new, but instead ones that I forgot about over the years and can all easily be used right away in the classroom.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great content ideas though repetitive. I've already brainstormed how to incorporate true, high level discussion into next year's classroom

[Mills College Library]

371.37 W225 2015