Meta- cognitionEncouraging them to ask questions, and to

understand why they are asking them!

Sutton Trust

Follow-up questions for learning Some ways to follow up a student’s verbal or written answer, in a whole-class, small group or one-to-one situation

Probing

Pushing for more clarity or depth?

What do you mean by…? Can you say more about…? In what sense…? What exactly…?

Challenging

Requiring re-evaluation or justification

But how do you know that…? What evidence is there that…? What are you assuming when…? But surely…?

Bridging

Moving thinking across to another example or topic

So would that be the same for…? How does that compare to…? Can you think of another…? When else…?

Reflecting

Asking about the thinking or learning process

When/how/what did you learn…? How did you work out…? Why did you think of…? What have you just…?

Extending

Moving towards greater complexity or difficulty

Could you explain…? What would happen if…? Can you think of other ways of…? What might be the problem with…?

Personalising

Asking for a personal angle or an evaluative response

What do you, personally, think…? What’s your own view about…? How well does…? In your opinion, why…?

  Useful Verbs Sample Question StemsApplicationUsing a concept or skill in a new or unprompted situation

solveapplyshowuseillustrateconstructcompleteexamineclassifymodifydemonstraterelate

Can you give another example of…?How could this have happened in...?What would you change in order to...?Can you use this method to...?From the information that you have, can you develop a set of instructions for...?When would this information be useful?

AnalysisSeparating material into parts, in order to understand how it is constructed or how it works

analysedistinguishexamineinvestigateidentifyexplainseparateexploreinferdifferentiatediscriminatecompare

Why…?What is the difference between…?Where are there examples of…?What is the effect of…?What underlies…?Can you distinguish between...?How was this similar to...?What was the underlying theme of...?Can you explain…?

SynthesisPutting diverse parts together to create a new whole, with new meaning

comparecontrast createinventcomposepredictplanconstructdesignimagineproposedeviseformulategeneratecombine

What might happen if…?Is there a pattern in…?Can you compare…?What connects…?What themes emerge across…?How many ways can you...? 

EvaluationMaking judgements about the value of ideas or texts

judgeselectchoosedecidejustifydebateverifyarguerecommendassessdiscussrateprioritisedeterminecritiquecriticizedefend

How effectively does…?What do you think of…?How do you respond to…?What is the value of…?Which … do you prefer, and why?How would you change…?Can you defend…?How successful is…?How would you rank...?Would it be worth…?How far do you agree that…?

Higher order

questioning

Follow-up questions and higher order questionsStudent questioning

• Peer assessment- creating challenge questions for each other

• Ask the teacher- students creating questions about the lesson- at the start of the lesson- what do we want to find out?

• Students formulate questions following presentation by teacher/student(s)

• End of the lesson- one question you would like to ask- students could lead this part of the lesson

Entrance activities...

What do you need to know to be able to answer this question? Write these questions down on your whiteboard

‘An Inspector Calls’: was J.B. Priestley concerned primarily with didacticism or dramatic effect?

What does didacticism mean?Who was Priestley writing for?Why did he write the play?

Wordsworth’s ‘The Prelude’

Reflection… Sentences startersBelow your progress grid add a reflection on your work. Here are some ideas to get you started. Try one you haven’t used before.

One success from today is… Today’s work connects with…

One mistake I made was……… and I overcame it by…

I need to remember to……… and I will remember it by…

The key to my learning today was… The key idea I learnt today was…

The key idea I still need to learn is… One failure I had today was…

Something I want to learn more about next time…