As teachers, one of our most powerful tools in fostering a love for learning and promoting higher-level thinking in our students is the art of questioning. Thoughtful and strategic questioning engages students actively in the learning process. In this post, we’ll provide you with questions that connect to executive function strategies.
Sparking Curiosity and Engagement
- What do you find most intriguing about this topic, and why?
- Can you predict the possible outcomes of the experiment we are about to conduct?
- How would you approach solving this problem differently if you were in charge?
Fostering Metacognition
- How did you arrive at your conclusion? Can you explain your thought process?
- What strategies did you use to solve the math problem? Were there any other approaches you considered?
- Reflect on your learning progress so far. What strategies have been most effective for you?
Developing Problem-Solving Abilities
- Can you come up with multiple solutions to this challenge? Which one do you think is the most effective, and why?
- How would you tackle a real-world issue using the concepts we discussed in class?
- In groups, devise a plan to address the problem we discussed. What steps will you take to implement it?
Enhancing Communication Skills
- Can you explain your interpretation of the story we read in your own words?
- When working on group projects, how do you ensure that everyone’s ideas are heard and respected?
- How would you express your opinion respectfully, even if it differs from your classmates’ viewpoints?
Promoting Goal-Directed Thinking
- How will you manage your time effectively to complete your project before the deadline?
- What do you hope to achieve by the end of this unit? What steps will you take to reach your learning goals?
- Reflect on a past challenge you faced in school. How did you approach it, and what did you learn from the experience?
The art of questioning is a powerful teaching tool that not only stimulates higher-level thinking but also nurtures important executive function strategies in our students. By incorporating thought-provoking questions into our lessons, we empower students to think critically, communicate effectively, and become more self-directed learners.
- Caitlin Vanderberg, M.Ed., SMARTS Associate
SMARTS Executive Function Curriculum: smarts-ef.org
Research Institute for Learning and Development: researchild.org