Learning & Leading With Habits of Mind

Categorical Questions to Engage the Habits of Mind

If we want students to become more mindful of the Habits of Mind and
to practice them, teachers and parents must learn to pose questions that
help children draw forth or become aware of one or more of the habits.

Using Questions to Challenge Students’ Intellect 145

FIGURE 8.2

Composing Powerful Questions: Three Linguistic Components

To c o m p o s e p o w e r f u l q u e s t i o n s , c h o o s e o n e s t e m f r o m e a c h c o l u m n.

For example,“As you/recall/what feelings.. .”

Invitational Stem Cognitive Operation Content

As you...

What are some of...

How might you...

What led to...

What possible...

What might...

How might...

How should...

Input:At the data-gathering

level, choose such words as

• Recall


• Define


• Describe
  •Identify


• Name
  •List
  Process:At the processing level,
  use words such as


• Compare
  •Contrast


• Infer


• Analyze


• Sequence
  •Synthesize


• Summarize
  Output:At the output level, use
  words such as
  •Predict


• Evaluate
  •Speculate


• Imagine


• Envision


• Hypothesize

In seeking internal

content, ask about

students’

•Reactions

• Feelings
  •Thoughts
  •Emotions
  In seeking external
  content, ask about
  the
  •Project
  •Other students


• Group
  •Event
  •Goals
  •Lesson