1. Half Asked Questions
Using Question- Answer Relationships (QAR)
A Content Reading Strategy
Ask, and you
shall receive!

2. Why Use Half Asked
Questions?
Students: ?
Answering questions is easy....
Asking questions is not.
Teachers:
Asking questions is easy....
Teaching kids to answer questions
is fairly easy...
Getting kids to ASK questions is
difficult!

3. Half Asked Questions
*Only half of the *Can be used for all
*A comprehension and content areas.
question is supplied.
question asking strategy
It is the students job
that allows the student
to ask the questions.
to complete the *Easily adaptable to
question. fit a wide range of
student needs.
Teacher created question stem example:
Where does the frog go when_________?
Student completed example:
Where does the frog go when it’s hungry, tired, frightened, there are
people around, it’s cold, etc....?

4. Creating Questions
#1 Give up control!
Don’t focus on the end result of the question.
The focus is on your students using their knowledge of the reading and their
own natural curiosity to develop questions that are relevant to them.
Don’t plan how you want students to answer the question. Just let it
happen !
#2 Use QAR terminology
Decide how you want your students to find the answers.
1. A literal level, text based response: “In the book” or “Right There”
Example: “Where do tree frogs....?”
OR
2. A reader based, “In my head” question. No right or wrong answer.
These can either be based on their own experiences or asks them to
question the authors ideas.
Example(s): What can we do to protect....?
What would happen if the tree frog......?
Learn more about the QAR strategy: Reading Rockets

5. Creating Questions cont...
#3 The 5 W’s
Always begin with: Who, What, When, Where, Why (and how :)
Avoid question stems that can lead to “yes or no” answers.
For situational questions and deeper thinking, begin by using “If”
Example: If you were to have a tree frog as a pet, how would you...?
#4 Variety for all learners
Include questions that use “In your head” and
“In the book” questions.
Tailor your question stems to your students
age level and ability or any other factors.
Listing several questions stems provide opportunity for each
student to create their own unique question.

6. Teaching...
1. Choose your text
2. Develop an appropriate amount of question stems.
(first grade, 3-4 questions)
(High school, as many as 15 or more)
3. Present your question stems before reading.
4. Model how to complete question stems.
(provide an example of answering an “In the book” and an “In your head”
question.)
4. Read ( you can either complete the question stems during reading OR do them
all after the reading) Large group, small group, or individually.
5. Share possible questions.
6. Students answer their own questions.

7. Sample Red Eyed Tree Frogs
From: National Geographic
Text by Catherine D. Hughes
Half Asked Being green helps the red-eyed tree frog blend in with tree leaves. This keeps it
hidden from both the insects it eats and the predators that want to eat it. Red-eyed
Question Stems
tree frogs are nocturnal, or active at night. During the day they rest. When one of
these tree frogs sits still on a green leaf, legs tucked in and eyes shut, it is practically
1. Why are red-eyed tree frogs....? invisible.
2. When are red eyed tree frogs....? A female red-eyed tree frog has laid a batch of eggs on a leaf. She chose the spot
3. How does the red eyed tree frog...? carefully—the leaf hangs over a pond. When the eggs are ready to hatch, which
4. Where does the frog....? happens at the same time in one batch of eggs, the tadpoles inside start swirling
5. Where could a red eyed tree frog go if....? around vigorously. The activity breaks each egg open, releasing the little tadpoles.
6. Do you think the author knows if the red eyed tree All the tadpoles wash down the leaf in a little stream of moisture from the hatching
frog.....? eggs, and—plop! plop! plop!—they land in the pond below. Feeding on tiny insects,
7. What are the red eyed tree frogs......? the tadpoles live in the water they fell into until they metamorphose, or develop, into
8. If the red eyed tree frog lived in Wisconsin how
little brown froglets. At this point they leave the water and climb up nearby trees to
would it....?
live as tree frogs.
By the time they're adults, the frogs have turned a striking green, with blue-and-
yellow striped sides, orange or red feet, a flash of blue on their thighs, and big red
See how many questions you eyes. So why do the frogs have brightly colored bodies and huge red eyes?
can come up with? The bright colors are a defense mechanism. If the green camouflage fails and a
predator spots a sleeping frog, it swoops in for what it thinks will be a tasty meal. But
the awakened frog's eyes pop open, revealing their startling bright red color!
Also, when the frog rushes to get away, it untucks its brightly colored legs. The
predator is often so surprised by these sudden flashes of color that it is momentarily
confused and hesitates. And while it does, the frog has a split second to make its
escape!
Link to slide show and website: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
animals/creaturefeature/red-eyed-tree-frogs/

8. Consider This
As educators, we spend much time teaching our students how to answer questions correctly.
Knowing how to answer questions is important, however,....
I believe it is more important that our students know how to ask questions that are insightful
and further their learning experience.
Half Asked Questions require students to not only THINK about what they have read but
question it and seek the answers through rereading and/or higher level thinking. Thereby,
increasing overall comprehension.
After all, isn’t asking questions just the beginning of educating oneself?
“Who questions much, shall learn much, and retain much.”
Francis Bacon (1561-1626) British statesman and philosopher

9. Research Based
Question-Answer Relationships (QAR)
Dr. Taffy Raphael, teacher educator and leading researcher in literacy development
at the University of Illinois-Chicago, created QAR as a tool for teaching students how to
approach a text in a manner that enables the student to consider the information in the
text and combine it with their background knowledge to create questions that further
enhance their understanding.
For more information on the QAR strategy:
Click Here
Billmeyer, Rachel. Strategies to Engage the Mind of the Learner. Vol. 2. Second Edition. Omaha, NE: Rachel & Associates, 2006.