Lesson Title
Unit IV- Instructional Strategies in Teaching Mathematics in the
Intermediate Grades
Teaching by Asking
Prepared by Roselia A. Borromeo
Objective
Formulate purposeful questions that encourage students to
participate in classroom discussions.
Introduction
In mathematics class, effective questioning is essential. Students
will get bored if his/her teacher merely states facts. An effective
teacher does just tell the definitions and theorems, but rather
he/she ask meaningful questions that lead learners to the correct
ideas. Also, the teacher gets to identify the students who are
having a hard time with the lesson and those with more advanced
skills through questioning. It is trough questioning that a teacher
gets to know the misunderstandings of the learners. If a teacher is
knowledgeable about the misunderstanding of the learners, then
the teacher will have the greatest understanding of his/her
learners.
It is, therefore, necessary that teachers deliberately frame
questions that will keep the class discussion moving. The goal of
this strategy is to keep the learners’ voices at the forefront of every
classroom session. The challenge for you to know is to think of
questions that you could ask that would get your students engaged.
Think
Discussion vs Lecture
In a discussion-based strategy, the teacher’s role is to engage the
learners in a question-oriented dialogue. The teacher spends a
significant amount of time asking scaffolding questions to help the
students understand an idea deeply. The interaction in this method
leans on both the teachers’ and the students’ equal participation.
This type of strategy is different from that of a lecture. In a lecture,
the teacher is the chief source of information.
Art of Questioning
Not all questions are created equal. Some questions can be
answered by a simple yes or no. Some questions would require the
students to think more meaningfully. Asking the right questions will
help you understand what your learners know, do not know, and
need to know. Asking questions is an art. As with most art, no
specific formula will work in all situations all the time. This lesson
