Questioning is asking questions before, during, and after reading to improve comprehension. It involves asking questions of the author, oneself, and the text to make connections, predictions, ensure understanding, and evaluate what was read. Questioning should be used to activate prior knowledge before reading, review content and check understanding during reading, and reflect on the text after reading. The document provides an example poem and questions readers could ask themselves about it to improve their analysis and comprehension.

1. Questioning: A Comprehension Strategy Created by Mrs. Christine Cowan

2. Questioning: What is it? Questioning is asking questions of the author, self, and text. Questioning is when questions are asked as you read a text. Questioning can be done by anyone while reading. Questioning helps us to become better readers by making you THINK! In other words, questioning is when you ask yourself (or someone asks you) about the story you are reading.

3. Questioning: What are we doing when we question? We are asking all sorts of questions about what we are reading. We are using questions to make connections: text to text, text to self, and text to world. We are using questions to make predictions. We are using questions to make sure we understand what we have read.

4. Questioning: When should it happen? Questioning should happen BEFORE you read. Questioning should happen DURING your read. Questioning should happen AFTER you read. Questioning should happen BEFORE, DURING, and AFTER reading.

5. Questioning: Why BEFORE reading? Questioning occurs BEFORE reading to help you activate prior knowledge. (activate your schema) Questioning occurs BEFORE reading to help you connect to the text. (attach to your schema) Questioning BEFORE reading helps you to read for a purpose. Questioning BEFORE reading helps you to make predictions.

6. Questioning: Why DURING reading? Questioning DURING reading helps you to review what has happened so far in the text. Questioning DURING reading helps you to confirm AND create new predictions. Questioning DURING reading helps you to understand what you have read. Questioning DURING reading helps you to make CONNECTIONS. Questioning DURING reading helps you COMPARE and CONTRAST what you have read other stories or even your own experiences. Questioning DURING reading allow you to EVALUATE the text.

7. Questioning: Why AFTER reading? Questioning AFTER reading helps you to check for understanding. Questioning AFTER reading helps you to make CONNECTIONS. Questioning AFTER reading helps you to respond to the story on a more personal level. Questioning AFTER reading allows you to think about the text more critically. Questioning AFTER reading helps you to make your reading experience a better one.

8. Questioning: Your turn to try. Read the poem on the next slide to yourself. Once directed, turn to a partner and question one another about the passage. Be prepared to share your questions with the group. Good luck and have fun!

9. Questioning: Your turn to try. Halloween Pals A happy little fellow sat on my fence one night His smile was full and wide- A most amazing site! He said to me, "I'm yours for keeps. I hope you'll like me fine. I've watched you now for weeks and weeks while growing on my vine. Just put me in your window when the right time rolls around I promise that I'll glow for you And I'll never make a sound. I'll be your friend forever We'll be happy as can be.

10. Questioning: Your turn to try. What questions did you come up with for the poem? Here are a few of my questions: What are the author’s Halloween Pals? Who was the happy little fellow that sat on the fence? Why was he smiling? Why did the author think the site of him smiling on the fence was amazing? Did he really talk to the author? What grows on a vine that talks? Does the little fellow from the fence have eyes to see? Why does he want to go home with the speaker? Does this remind you of anything? What connections have been made?

11. Questioning: Conclusion Questioning is vital to reading comprehension because it helps you make sure you understood what you have read. Questioning occurs before, during and after reading. Questioning helps you to make more connections to the text. Questioning helps you to learn to evaluate a piece of writing. Questioning makes you a better reader.