Big Questions for Young Minds

Janis Strasser, EdD, is a teacher educatorand coordinator of the MEd in Curriculum and Learning Early Childhood concentration at William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. She has worked in the field of early childhood for more than 40 years.Lisa Mufson Bresson, MEd, is a technical assistance supervisor for Grow NJ Kids, New Jersey’s statewide Quality Rating Improvement System for early childhood programs. She previously taught in urban public preschool settings for 13 years.

For anyone eager to become more adept at engaging children in meaningful conversations, Big Questions for Young Minds provides a clear and relevant guide to the craft of asking high-level questions to support development of critical thinking skills. Teachers, coaches, mentors, directors, providers of professional development, and families will find this book an invaluable resource.—Polly Smith, Early Childhood Consultant and Mentor of DirectorsFinally, a resource to help teachers develop and ask questions that encourage children to think, imagine, and generate ideas! Strasser and Bresson show how to build on what children know by asking questions that support rather than derail their play and exploration. This gem of a book should be in every classroom. —Beth Graue, Sorenson Professor of Early Childhood Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison Listening, questioning, and learning are essential ingredients to good decision making. This contribution by Strasser and Bresson will help ensure that educators won’t wait until children are in high school before asking them high-level, thought-provoking questions.—Vincent J. Costanza, Superintendent in Residence, Teaching Strategies, LLC As a teacher with more than 15 years of experience in early childhood education, I found this book to be practical, inclusive, and culturally relevant. I highly recommend Big Questions to educators who are looking for a resource that bridges the gap between theory and practice.—Dawn M. Durham, Pre-Kindergarten Teacher, Passaic, NJ

• IntroductionPart 1: Using Questions in Classroom Interest AreasChapter 1: Dramatic Play AreaChapter 2 : Block AreaChapter 3: Mathematics/Manipulatives Area.Chapter 4: A Makerspace in the Science AreaChapter 5: Writing AreaChapter 6: Art AreaPart 2: Using Questions During Other Parts of the Daily RoutineChapter 7: Class MeetingsChapter 8: Read-AloudsChapter 9: Exploring and Making MusicChapter 10: Large Motor ActivitiesChapter 11: OutdoorsChapter 12: MealtimesPart 3: More Learning Opportunities with QuestionsChapter 13: Supporting Emotional Development During the First Months of SchoolChapter 14: Kickstarting the School Year: Exploring Change Through Long-Term StudiesChapter 15: Using Featured MaterialsChapter 16: Multiday ExplorationsChapter 17: Supporting Children’s Understanding About DiversityChapter 18: Making the Most of Classroom DisplaysChapter 19: Documenting Children’s LearningPart 4: ResourcesReferencesAcknowledgmentsAbout the Authors About the Contributors