Using guided questioning

Guided questioning is an activity that helps readers learn to locate and understand information in a text.

Here are some guidelines to follow when you use guided questioning:

• Emphasize locating information rather than comprehension of the text.

• Use materials that have specific and easily identifiable answers to questions that you ask the learners to find. Here are some good sources:

  • Instructions
  • Newspapers
  • Scripture
  • Textbooks
• Use the activity as a writing activity by having the learners write a sentence or two about the text, using vocabulary found in the text.

1. Have the learners

   • look at the

     • cover illustration
     • title, and
     • first paragraph of a text, and
   • predict what the text might be about.
2. Discuss the topic of the text.
3. Introduce any words that may be difficult for the learners.

   Variation: Read the passage with the learners until they can read it well.

4. Ask a question about the text.

   Example: Ask: "What is the boy's name in this story?"

5. Have the learners read the text silently to find the answer to the question.
6. Discuss the answer to the question.

   Variation: Have them find other occurrences of the answer if it is a short answer.

7. Ask several more questions about the content of the material.

   Example: Ask: "What is the boy doing?"

8. Have the learners answer the questions by finding the appropriate parts of the text.

• Laubach Literacy Action 1994:60-63

• Task module: Using guided questioning
• In task module: Developing reading skills
• In task module: Developing literacy skills, by Martha A. Lane (contributor), Delle P. Matthews (contributor), Leah B. Walter (contributor), Glenys Waters (contributor), Anne Klaassens (editor), and Trudy K. Stewart (editor, contributor)
• In task module: Teaching people to read and write, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler)
• In task module: Implementing a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler)
• In modular book: Implement a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler) and Leah B. Walter (compiler)
• In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 16 March 1999

© 1999 SIL International