Chapter 3 of 6

Asking Better Questions

Three questions that build thinking, not recall.

5 min read

After the story, not during

Wait until the book is closed. Then ask at most three questions.

  1. Prediction repair: "What did you expect to happen? What actually happened?"
  2. Motive: "Why do you think she did that?"
  3. Bridge: "Has anything like that happened to you?"

Let silence work

Count to ten before filling a pause. Most children answer at second eight. The pause is thinking, not failure.

Practice exercises

0 of 3 complete
  1. 1.When is the best time to ask comprehension questions?

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  2. 2.Which question opens the most thinking?

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  3. 3.Write two why-questions and one what-if question about a book you read together recently.