Common Core, Common Language: Reforming Instructional Questioning

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for English Language Arts and Literacy in JL History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects have necessitated reforms that include a shift in instructional strategies, including those related to questioning. Teachers must utilize questioning in the classroom that focuses on common language for curricular development and instructional purposes. Yet, the types of questions that teachers have learned in their respective teacher-preparation programs may not necessarily align with the CCSS, with different academic terms used in each content area. As a result, teachers may be confused by the various terms used to define questioning types and the overlaps that exist. In this article, the authors present an instructional grid for questioning that is streamlined to include common language supported by the CCSS for ELA/Literacy and can facilitate teachers' development of questions across the curriculum.