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Equitable Questioning
Is Everyone Participating and Thinking? [FREE GUIDE]
Jamie Clark
May 09, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
👋 Hey there!
In this edition of ⚗️DistillED, we focus on effective questioning strategies that boost participation and ensure all students have an equal opportunity to think hard!
What is equitable questioning?
Equitable questioning involves deliberately shaping your questioning methods so that every student has a fair chance to think, participate, and share. By thoughtfully adjusting how we approach questions, we foster classrooms where:
Every student feels safe and is expected to actively participate
Every student is challenged to recall knowledge and think hard
Every student is supported through responsive teaching
Why is equitable questioning important?
Thinking is arguably the most vital ingredient in the learning process. As Dan Willingham puts it, “Memory is the residue of thought”—in other words, without thinking, learning is less likely to take place. That’s why it’s essential to engage all students actively in lessons. Thoughtfully designed questioning strategies help to:
Set High Expectations: Every student is held accountable for thinking
Strengthen Memory: Frequent retrieval helps embed knowledge
Guide Attention: Questions focus students on what matters most
Support Responsive Teaching: You can address learning gaps in real time
Barak Rosenshine, in his Principles of Instruction, reinforces this in his observation of expert teachers. He found that they frequently posed questions, checked for understanding, and involved all students throughout the lesson.
“Rather than asking only one student a question and then moving on, these teachers asked additional students to answer the same question or to provide an answer again in their own words.”
As the diagram below shows, the way we set up our questions can either limit or boost how much thinking happens in the room. Implementing strategies like thinking time and cold calling helps raise the ratio—making learning more equitable by making sure all students are actively involved.
So, what does equitable questioning look like in action? Let’s take a look…
How do I implement equitable questioning effectively?
The table below outlines five practical strategies, each grounded in cognitive science, to help you make questioning more equitable and effective.
What’s the Strategy? | Why is it Inclusive? | How is it Implemented? |
|---|---|---|
1. Cold Calling | Involves all students in discussion, not just volunteers. Makes thinking visible across the class and normalises a culture of participation. | Set the expectation that anyone may be invited to share. Frame rationale positively to reduce anxiety. |
2. Thinking Time | Gives all students — including those who need more processing time — an equal chance to think carefully instead of rushing to answer. | Always allow 5–10 seconds of silent thinking after asking a question. |
3. Follow-Up Questions | Shows that all contributions are valued and that thinking is layered, not just about getting a quick "right answer” and moving on. | After a first response, prompt the student to expand their thinking. |
4. Paired-Talk Time | Creates a lower-pressure space for students to rehearse ideas before speaking publicly. Supports quieter and developing learners to build confidence. | After thinking time, give students time to share with a partner before opening up to the class. |
5. Scaffold Responses | Supports all students, especially those who find verbal expression difficult, participate successfully. | Provide frames or sentence starters before asking for responses. |
Where can I find out more?
One-Page Guide
This new Equitable Questioning guide is packed with practical strategies and easy-to-implement routines to help you increase participation, boost thinking, and ensure every student has a voice in your classroom.
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Until next time — stay curious, stay clear!
Jamie
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