Cues, Questions, and Advanced Organizers

This chapter was really interesting and made me think about how/how often I am questioning my students.  As a Special Education teacher, I feel that the "higher-order thinking" questions should be asked a lot more than they are.  A lot of our students are unable to effectively interpret and analyze data or information.  This skill is imperative for success at this level in regards to MCAS, SAT's, College...ect.  


Activating prior knowledge is something that I've found to be extremely helpful for my classes...I've noticed that a lot of students just need that "little something extra" to help them understand a new concept and connect that concept to prior knowledge.  I've personally never tried a word splash, though I've heard that they work well.  Typically we start with a class discussion and some sort graphic organizer followed by a visual or tactile activity (youtube, coloring, modeling...).  


On another note...I feel that Analytic skills should be explicitly taught to students especially if they are lacking such a skill.  

Definition of Analytic Skills

Analyzing Errors: Identifying and articulating errors in the logic of information.

Constructing Support: Constructing a system of support or proof for an assertion.

Analyzing Perspectives: Identifying and articulating personal perspectives about issues.

 (page 116: Figure 10.2)