Extending Student Thinking
Ask "follow-ups"
Why? Do you agree? Can you elaborate? Tell me more. Can
you give an example?
Withhold judgment
Respond to student answers in a non-evaluative fashion.
Ask for summary to promote active
listening
"Could you please summarize
John's point?"
Survey the class
"How many people agree with the author's point of view?" ("thumbs up, thumbs down")
Remember "wait time I and II"
Provide thinking time after a question and after a response.
Utilize "think-pair-share"
Allow individual thinking time, discussion with a partner, and then open up for
the class discussion.
Allow for student calling
"Richard, will you please call on someone else to respond?"
Play devil's advocate
Require students to defend their reasoning against different points of view.
Ask students to "unpack their
thinking"
"Describe how you arrived at your answer."
("think aloud")
Call on students randomly
Avoid the pattern of only calling on those students with raised hands.
Encourage student questioning
Let the students develop their own questions.
Cue student responses
"There is not a single correct answer for this question. I want you to consider
alternatives."