Chapter 3

     During my own middle school years, I recall my teachers asking all sorts of questions. Some questions were easy, simple, and almost jumping out from the page of text. Some questions were difficult, complex, and not so much on the surface level of the text. Some questions were ones you had to really think about, discuss with peers, or even listen to the teacher to truly understand just what was being asked. Chapter three of Teaching Young Adolescents: Methods and Resources for Middle Grades Teaching discusses the many reasons why teachers should use various types of questions to challenge their students. Some questions are to review material while other questions are to lead learners a specific direction in their journey through a task or as they gain knowledge. It is important for educators to use these different types of questions to grow each students' intellect and make their learning experience purposeful. One method that I think is extremely beneficial is to have students ask their own questions to their peers who may then answer. By doing so, students are able to assist their peers in the learning process and may even ask additional questions in response. By questioning, students are able to understand just what is important to them. Students are able to solve problems, participate in higher level thinking processes, and create their learning experience to be as significant as possible. Educators play a key role in questioning and should continue to ask an assortment of questions so students are able to cognitively grow during the course of a lesson, school year, and entire educational career. 


Resources


Kellough, R., & Kellough, N. (2008).  Teaching young adolescents: Methods and resources for middle grades teaching (5th ed.). Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Pearson Merrill/Prentice Hall.