Good Questions, by Dr. Brad Schwall

Questions can help youth think critically and express themselves.  Effective questions encourage rapport-building and communication.  All children and adults enjoy having their thoughts and feelings valued.  When we ask youth good questions, they feel respected and valued.

How to Ask Good Questions

• Ask open-ended questions – questions that cannot be answered with just “yes” or “no.”
• Ask youth to explain their thoughts, “Tell me about your picture.”
• Ask youth questions that encourage the expression of feelings, “How did you feel when she said that?”
• Ask questions that encourage brainstorming, “How could you solve that problem?”
• Ask questions that encourage critical thinking, “What did you like about the story?” or “What lesson did you learn from the story?” or “How did you come up with that answer to that math problem?”
• Ask a variety of questions – questions that help recall facts, questions that help in thinking of new ideas, questions that encourage evaluation.

What to Avoid When Asking Questions

• When not checking for knowledge, avoid questions that have an obvious answer.
• When helping a child express feelings, thoughts, opinions, or ideas, avoid questions for which you expect a specific answer.
• Avoid questions that are sarcastic or involve teasing.

Good questions lead to good communication.  What would you like your next conversation with your child, student, or mentee to be like?