Describes the development and validation of the Portuguese Speaking Test, a simulated oral proficiency interview that uses a semidirect approach to examine proficiency in personal conversation, direction-giving, description, narration, topical discourse, and real-life situations. (CB)

Discussed is the case for problem solving in mathematics classrooms. The characteristics of "good" questions are identified. The assessment of questions and questioning techniques is considered. (CW)

Describes how a tenth-grade English teacher changed her role from that of a leader always on center stage to that of a prober, guide, problem poser, resource person, and strategist. Advises teachers to help students find, shape, and revise their own questions and then explore and evaluate responses to these questions. (RS)

Outlines objectives and implementation of a computer-based, general thinking-skills curriculum called HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills) in which teachers model thinking skills through sophisticated conversation and Socratic questioning techniques. The curriculum is designed to help low achievers, or discouraged learners, learn to link new…

This article suggests classroom activities that call upon students to generate questions as an aid to analytical thinking. Suggested activities apply the questioning technique to term paper planning, test review, and textbook reading. A reproducible student worksheet for use in planning term papers is included. (IAH)

Three reading comprehension strategies are presented to assist learning-disabled students: an advance organizer technique called "TELLS Fact or Fiction" used before reading a passage, a schema-based technique called "Story Mapping" used while reading, and a postreading method of categorizing questions called…

Literary classics encourage children to ask questions and seek answers that address universal problems. Such books make terrific springboards for critical thinking. This article provides information about a successful classics program, Junior Great Books, and discusses how the program's strategy can be applied in the classroom. (IAH)

Describes an undergraduate methods course for English Education majors called "Language Instruction in the Secondary Classroom." Details how the author used questioning strategies to encourage diversity in the ways students think about, question, and probe the subject matter of the course, and placed much responsibility for determining…

Discusses one first-grade teacher's use of collections in the classroom for the purpose of enhancing children's vocabulary, questioning, and oral presentation skills. (BB)

Thirty learning-disabled students in grades five-eight read several passages and attempted to identify and remember main ideas. Students were assigned to one to three conditions: control, monitoring and self-questioning, or mnemonic. The monitoring strategy was most effective for main-idea finding, whereas the mnemonic strategy was most effective…

Reminds teachers of sound practices of reading instruction, such as silent reading, the reading writing relationship, effective questioning strategies, proper reinforcement strategies, and ways to avoid wasting time. States that under the pressure of the demands of teaching, teachers may forget the sound practices they already know. (RS)

Three studies explored the effects of grouping versus randomized items in questionnaires on internal consistency and test-retest reliability with samples of 80, 80, and 100, respectively, university students and undergraduates. The 2 correlational and 1 experimental studies were reasonably consistent in demonstrating that neither format was…

Discusses the contributions of Wisconsin educator, Norris Sanders, to social studies education. Points out Sanders' belief in the power of information and the importance of asking questions. Describes his development of questions at various levels and the importance of these questions to critical thinking skills and excellence in education. (KO)

Proposes that questions in textbooks be restructured to include pre-reading questioning techniques as well as review questions and post-reading analysis in order to stimulate interest and give direction to the reading activity. Lists a series of questions for use in geography classes which provide a framework for seeking out salient details,…

Examines how prospective teachers can better understand the importance of interpretive moves and become more adept at asking literary questions. Argues that skills instruction often takes away from literary discourse. (MM)