STRATEGIES TO EXTEND STUDENT
THINKING
| Remember
"wait time I and II" |
Provide at least three seconds
of thinking time after a question and after a response |
| Utilize
"think-pair-share" |
Allow individual thinking
time, discussion with a partner, and then open up for the class
discussion. |
| Ask "follow-ups" |
Why? Do you agree? Can you
elaborate? Tell me more. Can you give an example? |
| Withhold
judgment |
Respond to student answers
in a non-evaluative fashion. |
| Ask for
summary to promote active listening |
"Could you please summarize
John's point?" |
| Survey
the class |
"How many people agree
with the author's point of view?" ("thumbs up, thumbs
down") |
| Allow
for student calling |
"Richard, will you please
call on someone else to respond?" |
| Play
devil's advocate |
Require students to defend
their reasoning against different points of view. |
| Ask students
to "unpack their thinking" |
"Describe how you arrived
at your answer." ("think aloud") |
| Call
on students randomly |
Avoid the pattern of only
calling on those students with raised hands. |
| Encourage
student questioning |
Let the students develop their
own questions. |
| Cue student
responses |
"There is not a single
correct answer for this question. I want you to consider alternatives." |