Empowering Young Learners through Better Questioning

Our brains are wired to seek answers to the questions we ask. This is especially true for young students. As a K3 teacher for more than 17 years, I have lost count of the number of questions I have asked my students. Over the years, experience in teaching has taught me to become a better scrutinizer of my students. We may think that asking questions is a simple thing, until we meet clever kids in the classroom.

We all want better answers, right? So, why ask better questions? According to Steve Quatrano of the Right Question Institute, the act of forming questions helps us "to organize our thinking around what we don’t know." I think this makes sense! However, questioning skills are not really being taught in schools. In most classrooms, questioning is still primarily the domain of the teacher. “Questions are used a lot in the classroom, but it’s mostly one way,” says Rothstein. “It’s not about the student asking; it’s about the teacher prompting the student by using questions that the teacher has formulated.”

In my classroom, I empower my young learners to ask questions because they are supposed to ask questions! But how can we train young learners to ask the right questions?

1. Use Interesting Activities: Since young learners can only focus for a short time, it’s important to use various interesting activities that can ignite their curiosity. Activities like storytelling, hands-on experiments, and interactive games can keep them engaged and encourage them to ask questions.
2. Utilize Pair-Work or Small Groups: Not all students learn the same way. You can utilize pair-work or small groups so that their knowledge will be open to different ideas with a partner or within a group. This collaborative approach helps students to learn from each other and encourages them to ask questions that they might not have thought of on their own.
3. Be Patient and Supportive: Some students are shy or don’t want to participate in class. We cannot force them to talk, so teachers must be patient first and supportive. Allowing them to join group work can help them feel more comfortable and gradually encourage them to ask questions.
4. Shift to Engaging Activities: Some students don’t like workbook activities and feel bored. Shift to meaningful and engaging activities that will encourage them to try communicative activities. This could include role-playing, art projects, or outdoor learning experiences that make learning more dynamic and fun.
5. Establish Rules and Routines: Some students are hard to control, which is why establishing rules and routines from the first day is very important. Clear expectations and consistent routines create a safe and structured environment where students feel confident to ask questions.

In conclusion, if you are a teacher, making your questions to your young learners is actually the basic formula. By shifting the balance of power in classrooms and putting students more in charge of their own questions, we can foster a more inquisitive and dynamic learning environment. Empowering students to ask their own questions not only enhances their learning experience but also helps them develop critical thinking skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. Happy teaching!