Helping ninth graders ask good questions is really important. Good questions can make conversations better, especially when students are talking with each other or working in teams. Here are some simple tips to help students ask better questions.
Encourage students to ask questions that can’t be answered with just "yes" or "no."
Open-ended questions make people think more and share their thoughts.
For example, instead of asking, “Did you like the book?” students could ask, “What parts of the book did you like and why?”
This kind of question makes discussions more fun and interesting.
If someone says something that doesn’t make sense, it can help to rephrase it.
For instance, a student could say, “So, if I understand you correctly, you think that... Is that right?”
This helps check if they got it right and gives the other person a chance to explain more.
Encourage students to think about pretend situations by using “What if” questions.
This helps them think more deeply about a topic.
For example: “What if the main character did something different? How would that change the story?”
This helps students see things in new ways.
After a student asks a question, they should be encouraged to ask more questions.
For example, if a classmate shares their opinion about a character, a good follow-up question could be, “Can you explain why you think that?”
This lets everyone dig deeper into their ideas.
The “5 Ws and H” stand for Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. These can be very helpful.
If they’re discussing a history topic, students might ask, “Why did this happen?” or “How did it affect the community?”
This helps cover many parts of a topic.
It’s also important to have a classroom environment where students feel safe to ask questions.
When students feel comfortable asking for help, they get more involved in discussions.
You could start “questioning circles” where students take turns asking and answering questions in small groups.
By using these tips, ninth graders can get better at speaking and listening.
This leads to better discussions and a deeper understanding of what they are learning.
Helping ninth graders ask good questions is really important. Good questions can make conversations better, especially when students are talking with each other or working in teams. Here are some simple tips to help students ask better questions.
Encourage students to ask questions that can’t be answered with just "yes" or "no."
Open-ended questions make people think more and share their thoughts.
For example, instead of asking, “Did you like the book?” students could ask, “What parts of the book did you like and why?”
This kind of question makes discussions more fun and interesting.
If someone says something that doesn’t make sense, it can help to rephrase it.
For instance, a student could say, “So, if I understand you correctly, you think that... Is that right?”
This helps check if they got it right and gives the other person a chance to explain more.
Encourage students to think about pretend situations by using “What if” questions.
This helps them think more deeply about a topic.
For example: “What if the main character did something different? How would that change the story?”
This helps students see things in new ways.
After a student asks a question, they should be encouraged to ask more questions.
For example, if a classmate shares their opinion about a character, a good follow-up question could be, “Can you explain why you think that?”
This lets everyone dig deeper into their ideas.
The “5 Ws and H” stand for Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. These can be very helpful.
If they’re discussing a history topic, students might ask, “Why did this happen?” or “How did it affect the community?”
This helps cover many parts of a topic.
It’s also important to have a classroom environment where students feel safe to ask questions.
When students feel comfortable asking for help, they get more involved in discussions.
You could start “questioning circles” where students take turns asking and answering questions in small groups.
By using these tips, ninth graders can get better at speaking and listening.
This leads to better discussions and a deeper understanding of what they are learning.