Reciprocal Teaching: Questioning

The third component of Reciprocal Teaching is questioning.  Lori Oczkus (Reciprocal Teaching at Work) created a character named Quincy the Questioner to represent this component.  Quincy holds a microphone and asks many questions.  He is a reporter and wants to get the scoop.  When we think of questioning, we often think about the teacher asking questions and the students answer. This is a very basic comprehension skill.  You want to focus on the student generating the questions, which is a much higher comprehension skill level.  Here are some ways to keep it multi-sensory:

• Use an object such as a microphone when introducing generating questions.
• Create a hand gesture representing questioning, such as holding up a “pretend” microphone. 
• Use our questioning cut out from the Training Manual.  Have students write questions on the outside and the answers on the inside of the paper.  Then have them take turns asking a partner their questions and quizzing them.  
• Fill in the third corner of your four-corner poster with a picture of Quincy the Questioner.  Place question marks all around it along with questioning words (who, what, where, when, why).

As with the other components, you should always model this skill for students first.  Then, have them practice with each other until they are doing this skill independently.