Uses a Variety of Questions-Child Engagement (E2.4.3)
Sub Category: Scaffolding and Communication-Based Strategies: Supporting Cognitive and Language Development
Credential Level: Level 1 •
Age Group: Infant, Toddler, Pre-K
COMPETENCY STATEMENT
Uses a variety of questions (open, closed, inferential) to encourage child engagement in lessons and activities
DEFINITIONS
In order to maintain children's attention and interest, teachers should prepare lessons and activities that include a variety of engaging questions that encourage participation. Teachers should use various question types such as: (a) open questions, which require details and thoughtful answers, (b) closed questions, which have two possible answers, and/or (c) inferential questions, which require critical thinking and reasoning based on facts.
EXAMPLES
Bumped Their Heads
Age Group: Toddler
In this exemplar video, a teacher is sitting with children having conversations as they play. Notice how the teacher responds to each child, comments on what they say and asks follow-up questions to encourage more language–examples of using a variety of questions to encourage child engagement in lessons and activities.
eCIRCLE Building Vocabulary: 2-6 explore heaps
Age Group: Pre-K
In this video the teacher uses a variety of open- and closed-ended questions to maintain children’s attention and interest in the activities.
Exemplar Video: Do You Like It
Age Group: Infant
In this exemplar video, a teacher is having a conversation with an infant while spending time outside. Notice how the teacher uses a warm expressive voice and asks a baby questions about her experience touching grass outside–an example of using a variety of questions to encourage child engagement in lessons and activities.
WAYS TO PRACTICE
Hey, Diddle, Diddle
Age Group: Toddler
In this Circle Activity, children link their experiences to words in a nursery rhyme to expand their understanding of vocabulary words in order to support their language and communication development. This activity can be used to promote positive interactions and provide the teacher an opportunity to use a variety of questions to encourage child engagement in lessons and activities.
My Book About Me
Age Group: Infant
In this Circle Activity, children identify people and actions by looking at pictures of familiar people in a personal photo book in order to support their language, communication and cognitive development. This activity can be used to promote positive interactions and provide an opportunity to use a variety of questions to encourage child engagement in lessons and activities.
My Book About Me
Age Group: Toddler
In this Circle Activity, children identify people and actions by looking at pictures of familiar people in a personal photo book in order to support their language, communication and cognitive development. This activity can be used to promote positive interactions and provide the teacher an opportunity to use a variety of questions to encourage child engagement in lessons and activities.
Puppet Friends
Age Group: Infant, Toddler
In this Circle Activity, children interact with puppets the teacher animates using different tones of voice in order to support their language, communication and cognitive development. This activity can be used to promote positive interactions and provide the teacher an opportunity to use a variety of questions to encourage child engagement in lessons and activities.
Share with Me
Age Group: Infant, Toddler
In this Circle Activity, children experience back-and-forth sharing of a toy with a familiar caregiver in order to support their language, communication and cognitive development. This activity can be used to promote positive interactions and provide the teacher an opportunity to use a variety of questions to encourage child engagement in lessons and activities.
Telephone
Age Group: Infant, Toddler
In this Circle Activity, children imitate having a back-and-forth conversation on the phone in order to support their language, communication and cognitive development. This activity can be used to promote positive interactions and provide the teacher an opportunity to use a variety of questions to encourage child engagement in lessons and activities.