1703 North Beauregard St. Alexandria, VA 22311-1714 Tel: 1-800-933-ASCD (2723) Fax: 703-575-5400
8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. eastern time, Monday through Friday
Local to the D.C. area: 1-703-578-9600
Toll-free from U.S. and Canada: 1-800-933-ASCD (2723)
All other countries: (International Access Code) + 1-703-578-9600
Jackie Acree Walsh and Beth Dankert Sattes
Table of Contents
Reviews | About the Authors
What type of questioning invigorates and sustains productive discussions?
That's what Jackie Acree Walsh and Beth Dankert Sattes ask as they begin a passionate exploration of questioning as the beating heart of thoughtful discussions. Questioning and discussion are important components of classroom instruction that work in tandem to push learning forward and move students from passive participants to active meaning-makers.
Walsh and Sattes argue that the skills students develop through questioning and discussion are critical to academic achievement, career success, and active citizenship in a democratic society. They also have great potential to engage students at the highest levels of thinking and learning.
The extent to which this potential is realized, of course, depends on individual teachers who embrace these practices, make them their own, and realize that this process requires a true partnership with students.
With that in mind, Questioning for Classroom Discussion presents and analyzes the DNA of productive discussions—teacher-guided, small-group, and student-driven.
See the book's table of contents and read excerpts
Review the five steps of the discussion process in this infographic to further your learning from the book.
See the infographic (PDF)
Share This Page
Study Guide
Related Resources
Product No: 115012
ISBN-13: 978-1-4166-2098-3
Availability: November 2015
Examination & Desk Copies
Premium, Select, and Institutional Plus members get the print book. Premium Online and Select Online members get the e-book.
Log in to read full chapters.
"The right question sparks students' minds and spurs their conversations. Discussion comes alive in the classroom when students and teachers learn to ask that 'just right' question. This does not occur by happenstance but through thoughtful planning, intentional modeling, strategic scaffolding, and differentiated coaching. This book provides a systematic way to improve our questioning while intentionally helping students develop skills for productive discussion."
—Doug Fisher
"Of all the arrows in the accomplished teacher's quiver, the skillful use of questioning and discussion is central to high levels of student engagement and learning. As an indication of its importance, it is the one specific instructional strategy described in the Framework for Teaching. This book presents a comprehensive examination of the many aspects of successfully using questioning and discussion strategies to deepen student understanding. It's a real contribution to the field."
—Charlotte Danielson
JACKIE ACREE WALSH is an independent educational consultant who partners with educators across the country to enhance teaching and leading in classrooms, schools, and districts. Based in Montgomery, Alabama, Walsh is also the lead consultant for the Alabama Best Practices Center, which affords her the opportunity to work with networks of school teams, district teams, instructional partners, and superintendents.
Read more
BETH DANKERT SATTES consults through her business, Enthused Learning, primarily in the area of effective questioning in K–12 classrooms. She works with clients and staff of service centers, districts, schools, and departments of education throughout the eastern and southern part of the United States, frequently facilitating adult learning and returning (in person or via the Internet) for follow-up.
literacy | teaching
classroom management | instructional strategies | student engagement and motivation
Subscribe to ASCD Express, our free e-mail newsletter, to have practical, actionable strategies and information delivered to your e-mail inbox twice a month.
ASCD respects intellectual property rights and adheres to the laws governing them. Learn more about our permissions policy and submit your request online.