Powerful Questioning

An experienced school leader and principal examiner, Michael Chiles has been teaching for over 15 years. He has delivered training both nationally and internationally, supporting teachers in their approaches to implementing effective assessment and feedback practices. Currently a Vice Principal, he writes blogs at GeogHod, sits on the Chartered College of Teaching Council and enjoys walking in the British countryside with his Border Collie. He is also the author of CRAFT and The Feedback Pendulum.

Teachers ask hundreds of questions a day in their classrooms. But do we make the most of them? In this superbly researched and referenced book, Michael Chiles explores the purpose and untapped potential of questioning within classroom pedagogy, giving the reader powerful insight into this crucial element of effective teaching. As well as examining why questioning matters for responsive teaching, he carefully dissects the types of questioning we can use but also how questions can be used in formative assessment to check for understanding, diagnose and support pupil reflection. His approach is carefully interwoven with cognitive science and how questioning can support both deeper thinking and the long-term acquisition of knowledge and skills. He doesn't duck the fact that both teachers and pupils can often find questioning hard; rather, he explores the reasons behind these challenges and offers practical and accessible strategies that can build classroom culture to allow powerful questioning to flourish and thrive. As with his previous books on assessment and feedback, this book is another gem - rooted in his own rich personal reflections and experience, his passion for teaching and his love of learning more about what makes the biggest difference in classrooms and to pupils' success. A must-read for teachers and leaders in all settings.Andy Buck