Using Prompts in the ClassroomPrompts are used to help teach, remind and reinforce students’ ability to do a particular task or use set of skills. Prompts can be subtle, but should also be easy to recognize and interpret for students.
Sometimes a student knows what he or she is thinking but does not know how to effectively communicate those thoughts to the teacher or to other students. As well, teachers should always be encouraging students to communicate using the appropriate language for a given subject (Mathematical Language vs. Science Language). Prompts, like training wheels on a bike, can be used to "get the ball rolling".... Below, are three scenarios along with some suggested prompts to assist in student communication. |
Helping students REFLECT...Possible questions to ask...
Possible prompts to use...
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Helping students CONNECT...Possible questions to ask...
Possible prompts to use...
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Helping students EXPLAIN...Possible questions to ask...
Possible prompts to use...
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REMEMBER!!!
Keep prompts in an a place where they are easily accessible/visible by the students. Good places include; on a chart paper on a wall in the class or on the inside of their workbook.
When posing questions to students during the inquiry process, the goal is to help students identify their OWN thinking.
It takes practice to come up with "better" questions that promote thinking... so practice!
Keep prompts in an a place where they are easily accessible/visible by the students. Good places include; on a chart paper on a wall in the class or on the inside of their workbook.
When posing questions to students during the inquiry process, the goal is to help students identify their OWN thinking.
It takes practice to come up with "better" questions that promote thinking... so practice!