Teacher Script: Asking Smart Questions

Session 1: Introduction to Before Reading Questions

(Warm-up)

"Good morning, future reading detectives! Today, we're going to learn a super important trick to become amazing readers. What does a detective do?"

"That's right! Detectives ask lots and lots of questions to solve mysteries. Well, guess what? When we read, stories can sometimes be like mysteries, and we can be reading detectives by asking questions!"

(Direct Instruction - Using Slide Deck: Questioning Strategies Slides 1-3)

"Let's look at our first detective tool: asking questions before we even start reading! Look at this first slide. See the picture? See the title? We can use these clues to predict what the story might be about and ask questions."

"For example, if the title is 'The Hungry Caterpillar' and I see a picture of a caterpillar, I might ask: 'Will the caterpillar eat a lot?' or 'What will the caterpillar turn into?' These questions get my brain ready to read!"

"Let's practice with our new story. Look at the title: 'The Clever Fox.' And look at the cover picture. What do you see?"

(Guided Practice)

"Based on just the title and picture, what do you think this story will be about? Turn and tell your partner quickly. Now, let's think like detectives. What questions pop into your head before we even read a single word?"

Model 2-3 questions: 'I wonder why the fox is clever?' or 'Will the fox trick someone?'

"What questions do you have? Let's write them on our chart paper."

(Wrap-up)

"Great questions, detectives! Why do you think asking questions before reading might help us when we finally read the story?"

Session 2: Questioning During Reading

(Warm-up)

"Hello, reading detectives! Last time, we learned how to ask questions before reading to get ready for a story. Let's look at our questions from 'The Clever Fox.' Did any of them get answered when we started reading yesterday?"

(Direct Instruction - Using Slide Deck: Questioning Strategies Slides 4-6)

"Today, we're adding another detective tool: asking questions during reading. As we read, sometimes we might get to a word we don't know, or a character does something confusing. That's the perfect time to stop and ask a question! It helps us understand what's happening."

"We can ask: 'What does that word mean?' or 'Why did the character do that?' or 'What do I think will happen next?' Asking these questions helps us keep track of the story in our minds."

(Guided Practice - Using Reading Passage: The Clever Fox)

"Let's read the next part of 'The Clever Fox' together. I'll read a little, and then we'll pause. Keep your minds thinking like detectives. If something is confusing, or you want to know more, ask a question!"

Read a few paragraphs. Pause. "Hmm, the fox just said something tricky. I wonder, 'Why did the fox say that?' or 'Is the fox trying to trick the rabbit?' What questions do you have about this part?"

Guide students to generate questions, adding them to the chart paper.

(Wrap-up)

"Excellent job, reading detectives! How did asking questions while we were reading help you? Did it make the story clearer, or make you think more about what was happening?"

Session 3: Questioning After Reading

(Warm-up)

"Good to see you, reading detectives! We've learned to ask questions before reading and during reading. Let's quickly remember why those are important. (Briefly solicit answers)."

"If we didn't finish 'The Clever Fox' last time, let's finish it now. (Read remaining part of the story if necessary)."

(Direct Instruction - Using Slide Deck: Questioning Strategies Slides 7-9)

"Now for our final detective tool: asking questions after we finish reading. Even when the story is over, our detective brains can keep working! We can ask questions to make sure we understood everything, or to think about what the story means."

"For example, after reading 'The Clever Fox,' I might ask: 'What lesson did the fox learn?' or 'How do you think the other animals felt about the fox?' These are questions that make us think deeper about the story, not just what happened, but why."

(Guided Practice - Using Reading Passage: The Clever Fox)

"Let's go back to 'The Clever Fox.' Now that we've read the whole story, what questions do you have? Think about the characters, the main idea, or what the story taught us."

Model 1-2 questions: 'Was the fox truly clever, or just tricky?' or 'What could the fox have done differently to be kind?'

"What are your 'after reading' questions? Let's add them to our chart paper and discuss possible answers."

(Wrap-up)

"Fantastic work, reading detectives! We now have three powerful tools for questioning: before, during, and after reading. Next time, we'll practice sorting different questions to see if they are 'before,' 'during,' or 'after.'"

Session 4: Applying Questioning Strategies

(Warm-up)

"Welcome back, detectives! Today, we're going to put all our questioning skills to the test. Who can remind us why asking questions before, during, and after reading helps us?"

(Activity - Activity: Question Card Sort)

"Alright, detectives, I have some mystery questions here! Your job is to sort these questions into three piles: 'Before Reading,' 'During Reading,' and 'After Reading.' Remember what each type of question helps us do. Work with your partner to decide where each question belongs."

Distribute question cards and monitor students as they sort. Facilitate discussion as needed, asking students to explain their reasoning.

"Let's go through them together. Why did you put this question in the 'Before Reading' pile? How about this one in 'After Reading'?"

(Wrap-up)

"You are all expert question sorters! Asking different types of questions is a really smart way to understand stories deeply. Which type of question did you find trickiest to sort or answer, and why?"

Session 5: Assessment and Reflection

(Warm-up)

"Good morning, reading detectives! Today is our last session, and we're going to show off all the amazing questioning skills you've learned to become super smart readers!"

(Assessment - Test: Comprehension Check)

"I have a special reading detective challenge for you today. It's a short test to see how well you can use your questioning skills. Remember to think about what questions you would ask before, during, and after reading as you answer. I will read the questions aloud if anyone needs help."

Distribute the test. Provide support as needed for 1st graders with reading the questions. Encourage students to do their best.

(Wrap-up)

"Time is up, reading detectives! Please turn in your tests. You've all done a fantastic job learning to ask smart questions. What is one new thing you learned about reading today? Remember, you are now all 'reading detectives' and can use your questioning superpowers every time you read a book!"

The Clever Fox

Flicker was a fox. He lived in a cozy den under a big oak tree. Flicker loved to play tricks, but sometimes his tricks made his friends sad. One sunny morning, Flicker saw a plump, red apple hanging from a branch. "Mmm, that looks delicious!" he thought. But the apple was too high to reach.

Flicker saw Rosie the Rabbit hopping by. Rosie was always very kind. "Hello, Rosie!" Flicker called out. "I heard there are the most delicious carrots just over that hill. But they are very hard to find." Rosie's ears perked up. She loved carrots! She hopped quickly over the hill.

While Rosie was gone, Flicker tried to jump for the apple again, but it was still too high. He sighed. Then, he saw Barnaby the Bear lumbering by. Barnaby was big and strong. "Barnaby, my friend!" Flicker exclaimed. "I need your help! I think there's a buzzing beehive right above this apple, and I can't reach it to get a taste of honey. Can you help me scare away the bees?"

Barnaby, who loved honey, happily stomped over to the tree, looking for bees. Flicker quickly climbed onto Barnaby's broad back and snatched the apple! "Got it!" Flicker cried, jumping down. Barnaby looked confused. There were no bees, only an empty branch where the apple had been.

Rosie came back, looking sad. "Flicker, there were no carrots over that hill!" she said. Barnaby realized Flicker had tricked him too. "Flicker, that wasn't very kind," said Barnaby. "You tricked us both!"

Flicker looked at his delicious apple. It didn't taste as good anymore. He saw Rosie and Barnaby walking away, their backs turned. Flicker felt a little lonely. He sat under the big oak tree, thinking. Being clever was fun, but making friends sad wasn't. He decided to find Rosie and Barnaby and share his apple. Maybe a shared apple would taste much, much better.

Reading Detectives: Discussion Prompts

Session 2 Discussion:

1. When you were reading, did you find yourself asking questions in your head? What kind of questions?
   
   
   
2. Was there a part of the story that made you stop and wonder about something? What was it?
   
   
   
3. How does asking questions while you read help you understand the story better?
   
   
   

Session 3 Discussion:

1. Now that we've finished the story, what were some of the most important things that happened?
   
   
   
2. Were there any questions you had before or during reading that got answered? Which ones?
   
   
   
3. What new questions do you have about the story after reading it? (These might be about the characters' feelings, the lesson, or something else.)
   
   
   

Session 4 Discussion:

1. When you sort the question cards, what made you decide if a question was for 'before,' 'during,' or 'after' reading?
   
   
   
2. Can you give an example of a 'before reading' question that helps you predict?
   
   
   
3. Can you give an example of an 'after reading' question that makes you think deeply about the story?
   
   
   

Activity: Question Card Sort

Instructions: Cut out the question cards below. Work with your partner to sort them into three piles: "Before Reading," "During Reading," and "After Reading." Be ready to explain why each question belongs in its pile!

Question Cards

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Card 1

What do you think the clever fox will do to get the apple?

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Card 2

What does "plump" mean when it describes the apple?

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Card 3

How do you think Rosie the Rabbit felt when she found no carrots?

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Card 4

Will the fox learn a lesson about being kind to his friends?

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Card 5

Why did Flicker tell Barnaby there was a beehive?

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Card 6

What do you see on the cover of the book?

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Card 7

What was the main problem in the story?

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Card 8

What do you think Flicker will do next after he feels lonely?

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Card 9

Who are the characters we will meet in this story?

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Card 10

How did Flicker solve the problem of getting the apple?

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Card 11

I wonder if the fox always plays tricks?

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Card 12

What is one thing the fox could have done instead of tricking his friends?

Answer Key: Comprehension Check

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which question would you ask before reading the story "The Clever Fox"?

   • Correct Answer: Who is the main character?
   • Reasoning: Before reading, we look for clues about the characters, setting, and potential plot. Asking about the main character helps us prepare for who the story will be about.

2. Which question would you ask during reading if you didn't know what "lumbering" meant?

   • Correct Answer: What does that word mean?
   • Reasoning: During reading, if we encounter an unfamiliar word, asking about its meaning is a key strategy to clarify understanding and continue comprehending the text.

3. Which question would you ask after reading "The Clever Fox" to think deeper about the story?

   • Correct Answer: What lesson did Flicker learn about friendship?
   • Reasoning: After reading, deeper thinking questions involve reflecting on themes, lessons, character development, and broader implications of the story, beyond just recalling facts.

Open Response Questions

4. Write one question you would ask before reading a new story about a brave knight.

   • Sample Answer: Will the knight have to fight a dragon? / What challenge will the knight face? / Who will the knight save?
   • Reasoning: Students should demonstrate understanding of 'before reading' questions by posing predictive questions related to typical knight narratives.

5. Write one question you would ask during reading if a character suddenly ran away.

   • Sample Answer: Why did the character run away? / Where are they going? / What made them scared?
   • Reasoning: Students should show comprehension of 'during reading' questions by asking clarifying or inferential questions about character motivation or plot development in the moment.

6. Write one question you would ask after reading a story about a lost puppy.

   • Sample Answer: Did the puppy find its way home? / How did the puppy feel when it was lost? / What did the puppy learn from being lost?
   • Reasoning: Students should provide an 'after reading' question that encourages reflection on the story's resolution, character emotions, or themes.

7. What was Flicker the fox's big problem at the beginning of the story?

   • Sample Answer: The apple he wanted to eat was too high to reach.
   • Reasoning: This tests basic recall from the beginning of the story.

8. How did Flicker try to get the apple? Explain one of his tricks.

   • Sample Answer: He tricked Rosie the Rabbit by telling her there were delicious carrots over the hill so she would leave. He also tricked Barnaby the Bear by saying there was a beehive so he would get on his back.
   • Reasoning: Students should describe at least one of Flicker's deceptive actions to reach the apple.

9. How did Rosie and Barnaby feel when they realized Flicker tricked them?

   • Sample Answer: They felt sad and confused/upset because Flicker was not kind.
   • Reasoning: This assesses understanding of character emotions and reactions.

10. What important lesson do you think Flicker learned at the end of the story?

    • Sample Answer: Flicker learned that being clever is not as good as being kind and having friends. He realized that tricking his friends made him feel lonely, and sharing was better.
    • Reasoning: This requires students to identify the moral or central theme of the story.