Questioning techniques are important for developing children's critical thinking skills, understanding of content, and social skills. The document provides tips for implementing questioning techniques at home, including asking open-ended questions to assess children's thinking, modeling the thinking process to address silence, and encouraging children to listen to each other by restating what others have said. Word games can also help develop listening skills.

1. Questioning
Techniques To
Produce
Quality
Answers
Children’s responses
to a question tells
weather they are
understanding the
content they are
being taught, Builds
social skills, and is
very important for
building critical
thinking skills.
Questioning
Techniques
By: Teresa Puga
Fresno Pacific
University
References:
Blake, S. & Shaw, J. (1998).
Mathematics for Young Children
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice
Hall.
Helping your children
become better
communicators in
mathematics
Here are some helpful
tips to implement in
activities at home.
• Use higher-level, open-
ended questions
• Model the thinking
process
• Encourage children to
listen to others

2. Use High-level. Open-
ended Questions to
Assess and Stimulate
Children’s Thinking
Some questions that should
be asked to encourage a
higher-level of thinking are:
1. Can you tell me about
your shape?
2. Why do you think the
two groups have
different amounts?
3. What are some other
items that measure
the same?
4.How do you know?
Model the
Thinking Process
for Children
If children are silent
when you ask open-
ended questions, model
some answers. After you
suggest an answer or
two, ask the children for
more responses.
Encourage
Children to Listen
Carefully to Each
Other
Parents should help children
focus on what others are
saying by asking them to listen
carefully. The child should be
asked to restate what another
has said. Ask the children
What do you think?, What can
you add?
Word games can be played
with you child to hone in on
listening skill such as:
telephone, rhyming games, and
name as many items in a
certain category.
Mom says: name a farm animal
Child says: cow
Mom: pig
Child: lamb
Etc……
Have fun talk with your child
and listen to what they have to
say!