Comments on: 26 Questions You Can Ask Instead

By: Penny Patton

Penny Patton — Mon, 23 Sep 2013 02:39:01 +0000

It is great to see so many teachers getting on board with higher order questioning. Many schools across the country have realized that due to technological advances, students no longer have to think inquisitively. Students have only had to regurgitate formulas and numerical answers, usually given by a calculator, for way too long. Having resources out there to help learn how to properly question the students is so valuable. Teaching students how to think by asking and answering questions in Math helps in all aspects of life. Thank you to those who have provided these resources.

By: Engineering Effective Discussions | Zero-Knowledge Proofs

Engineering Effective Discussions | Zero-Knowledge Proofs — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 14:49:24 +0000

[...] I got sidetracked by starting a new blog, and kind of let it drop. This morning, however, I read this great post from Max Ray about questioning, and it brought me back to formative [...]

By: John Scammell

John Scammell — Tue, 17 Sep 2013 13:44:20 +0000

Great post, Max. Good questions are important conversation-starters in class. One of my favorites (from Cathy Fosnot) is a simple statement, rather than an question. “Convince me.”

By: Procedural vs Intuitive Approaches | Learning and Teaching Math

Procedural vs Intuitive Approaches | Learning and Teaching Math — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 12:33:32 +0000

[...] looking to ask open-ended questions that can help engage their students’ intuitive thinking, 26 Questions You Can Ask Instead has some fantastic [...]

By: Allison Berryhill

Allison Berryhill — Mon, 16 Sep 2013 01:52:08 +0000

Max Hoegh, I especially like “How can you explain this using a drawing?” I think this will get kids to visualize their mathematical thinking. Excellent.

By: @cheesemonkeysf

@cheesemonkeysf — Sun, 15 Sep 2013 23:56:50 +0000

Love these questions! I don’t know if I’d call it the holy grail, but I also love the book that Rob recommends. My copy is dog-eared and repaired with book tape, but I refuse to replace it since the scars it bears are well-earned.

Max’s questions add a different dimension that I really like for use with certain classes and/or age groups. Sometimes I find that I need a fanciful or an imagination-priming question to help students boost themselves to the next level of understanding.

Keep ‘em coming!

- Elizabeth (@cheesemonkeysf)

By: Max Hoegh

Max Hoegh — Sun, 15 Sep 2013 21:17:16 +0000

Hi Max,

Great questions. Here are two questions I use to encourage my students to feel an ownership of any mathematical concept we are working on:

1. How would you explain this to a ten year old?
2. How can you explain this using a drawing?

Thanks for your post,
Max

By: Jim Hamm

Jim Hamm — Sun, 15 Sep 2013 21:10:50 +0000

I really like these questions. I too believe that thoughtful questioning is essential to deeper mathematical discussions which in turn leads to greater understanding. I am always looking for new ideas. I like these. I will be adding your ideas to my tool box.

By: Rob Stevenson

Rob Stevenson — Sun, 15 Sep 2013 20:29:01 +0000

Nice post. The holy grail of superb questions is :
Questions and Prompts for Mathematical Thinking. Page after page of *types* of questions with examples of each at various age-appropriate levels.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Questions-Prompts-Mathematical-Thinking-Watson/dp/189861105X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379276602&sr=8-1&keywords=prompts+mathematical

Get a copy!

By: Benny Shayna

Benny Shayna — Sun, 15 Sep 2013 16:48:08 +0000

Outstanding. Will crosspost on our site. Thx :)