Torvani mentions in her book that learning happens through asking questions, not answering them. Back in my subbing days I used to try "stump the sub", and had the kids work in groups to try to formulate a question from the content that I didn't know.
Don't know if asking questions is better than answering them, in regards to learning, but when I used to have this activity in class you'd really see the students dig into the textbook to try and stump the teacher.
I found it a useful strategy when we ask students to ask questions and post them on their Cornell note. It is a good way for them to reflect on their understanding of the text. In other words, it is almost like asking themselves "What this text is about?".
ReplyDeleteI found it a useful strategy when we ask students to ask questions and post them on their Cornell note. It is a good way for them to reflect on their understanding of the text. In other words, it is almost like asking themselves "What this text is about?".
ReplyDeleteI like that, and it falls into the bigger area of student motivation. Strangely enough, for all the fancy words and ideas and cultural relevancy, there is no mention of fart jokes or stumping the sub that can get students motivated :o) Seriously, the simplest of things are the best! 10 ways to engage students, 10 relevant ways to bring culture in to the class .. just fart and set the class on a great way!
ReplyDeleteI like that, and it falls into the bigger area of student motivation. Strangely enough, for all the fancy words and ideas and cultural relevancy, there is no mention of fart jokes or stumping the sub that can get students motivated :o) Seriously, the simplest of things are the best! 10 ways to engage students, 10 relevant ways to bring culture in to the class .. just fart and set the class on a great way!
ReplyDeleteStudents that ask their own questions about the content we are teaching does help the student learn! I have learned this through my own experience too going through college. When students ask their own questions it gives us a sign that they are engaged in our lesson and paying attention.
ReplyDeleteThis idea (stump the teacher) is a great one that I will be using in the future. I think it is a great way to get the students into their text books and reading with comprehension in mind. Great idea!!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like it could be fun. Another way to look at it is you can have the students bring in questions from the readings and have them try to stump their fellow students.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Karisa about "Students that ask their own questions about the content we are teaching does help the student learn!" I had a same experience. It happened to me that when I got home I had many questions about the lecture, but the days that students were asking the questions in the class, it help me to think about the topic and check my knowledge to see if I have more questions. Student's questions also helped me learn more in the class.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a really good strategy. Having students come up with questions to ask about the content seems like it could be a better learning process than just asking them the questions and asking them to find the answer in the text, which they are most likely to forget within a couple of minutes.
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