Asking Questions

“Knowledge if having the right answer. Intelligence is having the right question” (Unknown)

“The best scientists and explorers have the attributes of kids! They ask question and have a sense of wonder. They have curiosity. 'Who, what, where, why, when, and how!' They never stop asking questions, and I never stop asking questions, just like a five year old.” ( Sylvia Earle)

‘Asking Questions’ is a key skill we promote at Welton and integral to our approach of Teaching and Learning. At Welton as a staff team we are committed to applying a Thinking Skill approach, where Metacognition (Thinking about Thinking) is key. The promotion of children ‘asking questions’ is essential part of our philosophy.  As a staff we have spent lots of professional development time looking at Asking Questions and have researched this area in detail, with work on ‘Blooms Taxonomy’ being particularly interesting.

What does ‘Asking Questions’ look/sound like?

In class children will be forming their own questions to ask. For example, in a guided reading session they might be using a Q-matrix’ to think of appropriate questions to ask a character or an author. At a start of a new theme or topic children will be using a KWHL grid (What we Know, what we Want to know?, How will we find out? What I have Learnt!) to scaffold their own learning.

When ‘reflecting’ children are encourage to ask themselves or peers questions to help assess their own work , progress or performance. When collaborating children are encourage to ‘probe’ each other by asking challenging questions.

Asking Questions is the way we learn:  the way we analyse; the way we synthesise; the way we evaluate. At Welton we promote curiosity and investigation – Asking questions is a crucial part of our learning process.