Nancy Johnson has written several books on questioning. I have four of her books in my classroom library: Questioning Makes the Difference, Thinking is the Key, Active Questioning, and The Quick Question Workbook. All are filled with practical ideas and samples of questions that can be used in all subject areas. The following is her list of Questioning etiquette “Do’s.” The“Don’ts” follow on the next page.

Etiquette "Do's"

• Accept all answers, even repeated ones

• Make sure students understand what “Open-ended means

• Ask questions when you are really interested in a student’s thoughts

• Place students in partnering or small group situations

• Offer verbal and non-verbal reinforcement

• Reward the responding not the response

• Practice what you peach by modeling good questioning in your own life

• Ask questions that motivate, and stimulate emotion

• Sequence questions in terms of a student’s readiness to learn

• Ask questions that stimulate evaluative thinking

• Ask questions that call for guessing

• Ask questions that relate to a student’s life experience and interests

• LISTEN TO THE ANSWERS!

• Vary the technique of asking; take volunteers sometimes, call on students at other times

• Allow sufficient “wait time” after asking questions—most teacher wait less than 5 seconds

• On occasion, rephrase, clarify, or simplify student responses

• Believe in your own abilities and those of your students. (Johnson, 1990, p. 8-9).