Question Starters

Type of Literacy Strategy:

Speaking (discussion and debate)

Reading Level:

All Secondary Reading Levels; Based on how the discussion or debate is going, having sentence starters printed out for EL learners or struggling readers can help prepare them for questions that might be asked and let them write down questions they might want to ask.

Prep Time:

1-3 minutes based on need for prep and handing out question starters to students before discussion or debate

Question Starters in Use -

• Create beginnings of questions(question stems) for the text the class has read/is reading
• Have students use the question stems to create unique questions (work in pairs or individually). Remind students they are the instructor when creating the questions, so they should think of good questions that can actually be answered
• Have students first answer the question verbally with a partner, and then if time, you can have them write answers as well.
• have students read questions and answers out loud to partners then class.
• See if other students want to expand on answers or ask follow up questions.