Increase class participation by creating a question jar to help all students with special needs engage during lessons.
What is a Question Jar Strategy?
A question jar is a jar (or can) that contains a variety of pre-written questions or prompts for the teacher to help reluctant or language-impaired students participate in teacher-led lessons.
Example:
An education science teacher has a student with autism in their class. The student communicates very little and will not participate in most class activities. The educator is looking for some ideas of how to get the student to participate more meaningfully in class routines.
How a Question Jar Can Help Improve Student Participation
Often students with significant disabilities are included in regular education settings yet do not seem to be a part of the class. Try to think of some different ways that ALL kids can participate as part of your natural classroom routine.
For example, using a “Question Jar” as a means to increase student participation is an easy strategy for hesitant hand raisers or students who have trouble communicating and interacting during class discussions. A question jar can provide opportunities for students to draw from the jar and ask the teacher a question or prompt further discussion.
If a student can communicate verbally, they can read the question or statement aloud. If a student is hesitant or cannot verbally communicate, they can pick out of the jar and give the written question to the teacher to read and respond accordingly.
This is a simple strategy that can be developed for the entire class but gives a student with a disability or who struggles with anxiety the opportunity to participate meaningfully in a typical class routine.
Quick Facts
- Child’s Age: 6-17
- Planning Effort: Low
- Difficulty Level: Easy
Requirement
A container (jar, can, box) with appropriate questions written or typed on pieces of paper contained within
Steps for Using a Question Jar
- Label a jar or coffee can with “Question Jar”.
- Create a variety of questions or prompts that would lead to a meaningful discussion on a class topic or answer a question related to the lesson.
- Questions can vary, such as “What is the most important concept about this topic?” or “Who would like to re-teach something from today’s lecture?” or even statements such as “Call on 2 of us to role-play something from today’s lesson.” “Tell us how we should focus our studying for a test.”
- Make sure the questions or statements are age-appropriate and pick those that can have applications across lessons.
- Write or type the questions on slips of paper and place them in the jar or can.
- If a student is having difficulty participating in the class discussion, encourage them to select a question from the jar and either read it aloud or hand it to you to be read aloud to the class.
Question Jar Resources
This resource was authored by Watson Institute Special Education Consultant, Erica Caprini, M.A
If you have questions or concerns about the Watson Institute’s use of this information, please contact us.