questions to ask students about homework

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Is Homework Helpful? The 5 Questions Every Teacher Should Ask

The Common Core State Standards ask teachers to increase rigor by diving deeper into material. Consequently, everything has been ramped up, classwork and homework no exception.  

My nephew, a fourth grader, has 40–50 minutes of homework a night, plus independent reading and projects. When you include a snack break, the distractions from his younger sister, and his fourth-grade attention span that is bound to wander, that time often gets doubled. He is hard working and conscientious, but many nights he is distracted, frustrated, and anxious.

The National PTA recommends 10–20 minutes of homework per night in the first grade, and an additional 10 minutes per grade level thereafter (i.e., 20 minutes for second grade, on up to 120 minutes for 12th). If you follow these guidelines, students will spend 137,160 minutes doing homework from first grade to 12th. That’s 2,286 hours, or 95 straight days, of homework. 

High school students in Finland rarely get more than a half-hour of homework a night. The country as a whole allows children to engage in more creative play at home. This is significant because its students score remarkably well on international test scores. It has many parents and education advocates in America questioning our practices.

So are we misguided with all this work? To answer that, one must step back and question the value of assignments. How often should they be assigned? Where is the line between too much and too little? Here are five considerations to help you determine what to assign and why. 

1. How long will it take to complete?  There are no surefire guidelines or golden rules that say how long students should work, especially since they progress at different speeds. Assignments need to lead to better learning outcomes. To achieve this, one must balance efficiency and effectiveness. The more efficient the assignment, the more material and learning that can be covered over the course of a year.

Here’s the rub: It must not be so quick that the material is not mastered, nor so long to provoke boredom. In between there is a sweet spot that everyone should seek.

2. Have all learners been considered?  Often, teachers make assumptions about the time it takes to complete an assignment based on the middle-of-the-pack kid. Struggling learners can take double or triple the time that other students need to complete an assignment. Don’t just think about the average learner, consider the needs of al students.

3. Will an assignment encourage future success?  A longer assignment can be justified if it is meaningful. Work that builds confidence and opens the door to future success is certainly worthwhile. Worthy assignments encourage participation in upcoming activities rather than discourage it. Teachers must explain the benefit of classwork and homework so that students will be sold on the benefits. Without the sales pitch, or the awareness of its purpose, students will view assignments as busy work.  

4. Will an assignment place material in a context the classroom cannot?  Homework is effective when classroom learning is transferred beyond the school walls. When teaching area, have students measure the area of a refrigerator shelf to determine what size sheet cake will fit for an upcoming party. When teaching the types of clouds, have students observe them in their own backyard. Make the learning applicable to everyday life, and it will be worth the time it takes to complete.

5. Does an assignment offer support when a teacher is not there?  Students can reduce the time it takes to complete assignments if they know where to turn for help. In the case of homework, teachers are not there at all. Assignments should not only check for understanding but also offer support when students struggle. Teachers should provide links to online tutorials, like Khan Academy, that offer instruction when students get stuck.

This post is the first of two parts. The second part is  Homework: Helping Students Manage their Time.

This piece was originally submitted to our community forums by a reader. Due to audience interest, we’ve preserved it. The opinions expressed here are the writer’s own.

Because differences are our greatest strength

Homework challenges and strategies

By Amanda Morin

Expert reviewed by Jim Rein, MA

At a glance

Kids can struggle with homework for lots of reasons.

Homework challenges include things like rushing through assignments and trouble with time management.

Once you understand a homework challenge, it’s easier to find solutions.

Most kids struggle with homework from time to time. But some kids struggle more than others. Understanding the challenges kids face can help you defuse homework battles before they start.

Here are some common homework challenges, along with homework strategies and tips to help.

The challenge: Rushing through homework

All kids rush through homework sometimes. They may want to get it over with so they can do something more fun. But for some kids, rushing can be an ongoing challenge.

From finding the work boring to simply being fatigued after a long day at school, there are many reasons kids may rush through homework . And that can lead to messy or incorrect homework. Sometimes, rushing can even cause kids to miss parts of assignments.

How you can help: Some kids rush because they don’t like doing repetitive work. For these kids, you may want to try mixing things up.

Teacher tip: Switch the order of homework .

Try having kids approach the material in a different way. If vocabulary words are a challenge, try using them in everyday conversation. You can also use household items to illustrate math problems in a fun way.

There are other ways to help, too. Get tips for helping grade-schoolers , middle-schoolers , or high-schoolers slow down on assignments.

The challenge: Taking notes

Note-taking isn’t an easy skill for kids to master. Some kids struggle with writing and organization . For others, it may be hard to read text and take notes at the same time.

How you can help: There are several note-taking apps kids can use. It can also help to teach note-taking strategies . For example, there are specific note-taking techniques for kids with slow processing speed .

Watch this video to see three powerful note-taking strategies in action.

The challenge: Managing time and staying organized

Some kids struggle with keeping track of or budgeting their time. They may also struggle to break down a big project into smaller chunks , or make a plan for getting all their schoolwork done.

How you can help: There are a couple of simple ways you can help with organization and time management.

Create a homework schedule. A homework schedule can help kids set a specific time and place for studying. Find a time of day when they concentrate best and when you’re available to help. Choose a time when neither of you are in a hurry to get somewhere else. Also think about creating a designated homework space or homework station . Once you have a set time and place, show kids how to “chunk” homework with breaks in between.

Use checklists. There’s something very rewarding about crossing a task off a checklist. Kids can learn how good that feels by using a checklist to keep track of schoolwork. All they need is a small pad of paper to list daily assignments on. As each one is completed, they can cross it off the list.

How to color-code school supplies

Create a color-coding system . Using colored dot stickers, highlighters, and colored folders and notebooks is a great (and inexpensive) way to keep organized.

Use a homework timer. A timer can help keep homework on track and give kids a better sense of time. There are many types of timers to choose from. For instance, if a child is distracted by sounds, a ticking kitchen timer may not be the ideal choice. Instead, try an hourglass timer or one that vibrates. There are also homework timer apps you can program for each subject. (Don’t forget that your phone probably has a built-in timer, too.)

The challenge: Studying effectively

Developing good study skills can be a challenge. Most kids need to be taught how to study effectively, or they may spin their wheels without getting much done.

How you can help: Kids need to find out what works best for them based on how they learn . You can start early by working on good study habits in grade school .

As kids gets older, learning study strategies can reduce stress about school and improve grades. Keep in mind that in middle school and high school, kids have to study more. You’ll have to decide how much (or how little) to supervise or be involved with homework .

Explore more tips for helping teens develop good study habits .

The challenge: Recalling information

Some kids study for hours but still have trouble retaining information. When it comes time for the test, it may seem like they haven’t done their homework.

These challenges can be caused by trouble with something called working memory . But it can also be an issue of inattention — they aren’t able to tune out the unimportant stuff. Read an in-depth expert explanation about why some kids can’t remember what they’ve studied .

How you can help: Make sure kids study in a medium that’s a good fit. For example, some kids have a hard time processing and understanding verbal or written information. They may be better at remembering visual information, like maps or graphs.

That’s why it can help to present information in a way that engages multiple senses . Discover multisensory techniques to try at home. You can also explore working memory boosters and “muscle memory” exercises .

The challenge: Learning independently

It’s important for kids to know how to ask for help when they need it. But they also need to learn how to become independent learners. Eventually, kids will have to do homework without your help.

How you can help: Help kids set realistic goals and encourage “thinking out loud.” Try using a homework contract . And learn more ways to help grade-schoolers and tweens and teens be more independent learners.

Helping kids work through homework challenges can be tricky. But in the end, it helps them be more independent and confident students.

Sometimes, though, homework challenges don’t go away, despite your best efforts. In this case, consider asking for help. Look for signs kids may have too much homework , and learn how to talk with teachers about concerns . You can also learn about different tutoring options .

Key takeaways

Eventually, kids have to learn how to do homework on their own.

Try tailoring homework strategies to kids’ specific challenges and strengths.

If homework continues to be a challenge, look for signs there's too much or talk with the teacher.

About the author

Amanda Morin is the author of “The Everything Parent’s Guide to Special Education” and the former director of thought leadership at Understood. As an expert and writer, she helped build Understood from its earliest days. 

Reviewed by

Jim Rein, MA has lectured on postsecondary options and summer programs for kids and young adults with learning and thinking differences.

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10 questions to ask to help your child with their homework

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• Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning
• Instructional Guide

Questioning Strategies to Engage Students

Asking students challenging and thought-provoking questions encourages students to tap their existing mental models and build upon previous knowledge. Faculty can ask key questions to get students to see the relevance of a topic. In turn, it is hoped that students will then ask follow-up questions, engaging in dialogue while critically analyzing viewpoints shared. Therefore, by encouraging students to ask questions faculty provide opportunities for students to become actively engaged in the learning process while also developing valuable metacognitive skills that will benefit them the rest of their lives.

. . . by encouraging students to ask questions faculty provide opportunities for students to...[develop] valuable metacognitive skills that will benefit them the rest of their lives.

This article shares tips for designing and asking effective questions, during the beginning, middle and end of class, as well as asking questions outside of class.

Tips for Designing and Asking Effective Questions

In his book, The Craft of Teaching , Kenneth E. Eble (1988) shows the essential connection between “the art of asking questions” with meaningful class discussions (p. 88-89). Eble suggests “three cardinal principles” when forming questions:

• “Ask real questions even though they may seem off-hand, simple, or imprecise.” Avoid using stock questions that fail to match course content and worst of all, your teaching style. Instead, form questions that are related to course content, current and ongoing discussions, and ones that are interesting to your students. Finding students’ interests can be achieved through an early course survey and more intimate classroom discussions.
• “Be ingeniously responsive to the students’ answers and questions.” Class conversations, as Eble suggests, should be accepting of all points of view, whether or not the answer is correct, “vague, wandering, irritating, or whatever” (1988, p. 89). In other words, everyone should feel comfortable answering questions without fear of ridicule, non-acceptance, or laughter. This is especially important when asking questions in a classroom of diverse learners. Some students not educated in western cultures may not be comfortable answering questions—they learned by listening to more autocratic instructors and did not ask questions because doing so questioned the authority of the instructor. Other students could have learning disabilities or are fearful of speaking in class. It is important, then, to create a learning environment in which you welcome and encourage questions. Model your expectations at the beginning of the semester and provide examples of ways you expect questions to be asked and answered. “Never deliberately ignore a question or demean the questioner” (Eble, 1988, p. 89). If class time is coming to an end and you feel students have questions yet to ask, have them write the questions on a note card that they submit before leaving class. You can address these questions at the beginning of the next class period or comment directly on the card which you can return to the student.
• “Try to achieve a rhythm in a series of questions so that the group arrives at moments of larger understanding.” Prepare a series of questions that begin with less complicated content that eventually leads to more complex content. Present questions with just enough information to encourage students to think deeply and form a meaningful answer. Instead of expecting one person to answer the question, ask students to pair up and discuss the question and prepare a shared answer—this allows them to talk about and share their collective knowledge with the class.

Avoid using language that is ambiguous or not yet relevant to course content. Do not assume students know the “terminology du jour.” Asking vague questions by virtue of ambiguous or out-of-context language may elicit vague answers. Therefore, “questions should be definite and unmistakable” (Eble, 1988, p. 90, citing Fitch).

Avoid using language that is ambiguous or not yet relevant to course content.

The following tips and techniques have been compiled from of a number of sources (see references) that provide ways to prepare and deliver effective questions in the classroom. Although this list is not exhaustive, the points provide a range of ways to integrate questions in the classroom. The list begins with preparing questions and ends with ways questions can be used outside the classroom.

Preparing Questions

First and foremost, design course goals and learning objectives to help students achieve what you want them to learn. Once course goals and objectives have been developed you can begin to prepare complementary and effective questions.

Get acquainted with your students so you can customize questions that challenge them to think more critically about course content to help them learn. This does not mean that you must scrap the foundations, key concepts and content that drives your course. It means, however, that you can meet your students along the way—to challenge the knowledge they bring to the classroom and to present content through questions that is useful and relevant to them.

...customize questions that challenge them to think more critically about course content to help them learn.

Questions to Ask Students at the Beginning of Class

• Arrive in the classroom early to help students who have questions about previous lectures, readings and exam preparation.
• Begin the semester—the very first class, by asking students the type of questions you plan to ask throughout the semester. This will set the stage for the class, and help students form more complete impressions and establish expectations
• “How will the proposed economic stimulus package affect you as a college student?” 
• “Why should we be concerned about melting arctic ice?”
• “How will your successful completion of this class prepare you to enter the work force?”
• Why did some societies get in boats and go bother other people while others stayed at home and tended to their own affairs?
• Why are human beings occasionally willing to leave home and hearth and march off into the wilderness, desert, or jungle and kill each other in large numbers?
• Why are some people poor and other people rich?
• How does your brain work?
• What is the chemistry of life?
• Can people improve their basic intelligence?

Ask provocative questions to energize students into saying something.

• Tell stories about your life, your friends, and other people that provide meaning to the topic of the day. Stories can provide the springboard some students might need to ask questions. For example, as an instructor in a University Experience class, you could tell the story of your first experiences away at college and some of your struggles with study and time management skills. Personal stories might compel students to ask questions about study skills, time management and taking exams.

Questions to Ask Students During Class

• Teach with the notion that students are naturally curious and have them “develop an intrinsic interest that guides their quest for knowledge, and an intrinsic interest…that can diminish in the face of extrinsic rewards and punishments that appear to manipulate their focus” (Bain, 2004, pp. 46-47). In other words, provide content in such a way that students can see how it can be used in their professions and the relevance of course content to job-related skills. Provide meaningful comments on graded papers and exams—show them the “why” so they can learn “how” to improve.

. . . provide content in such a way that students can see how it can be used in their professions and the relevance of course content to job-related skills.

• Be aware of how you present questions—do you ask questions in a friendly or authoritative manner? What is the purpose of asking questions? Do you want your students to learn from the question or are you asking the question “just because”?
• Avoid “schooling” where “bulimic learners” (Bain, 2004, p. 40, citing Nelson) memorize facts and short-ranged information to later purge, “making room for the next feeding” (Bain, 2004, p. 41).  This “force fed” competitive-type of schooling reduces students to be mere receptors of information to compete for grades and have little interest in learning something new.
• Incorporate relevant vocabulary when responding to a student’s question. For example, when a student asks why her computer is not operating as fast as it had been, you can tell her that she might need more RAM. The student can then ask, “What is RAM?” a question she would not have asked except in this context (the idea for this example was improvised from Bain, 2004, p. 104).
• Ask students to bring one or two questions to class based on textbook readings or content covered in the previous class. Provide some sample questions to help students write meaningful questions. These questions can then be submitted (a good way to take attendance) and randomly addressed at the beginning of the class period or used to develop exam questions.
• Avoid answering your own question by giving students a few seconds to form a good answer. If the first answer is not what you had expected, do not discount the effort the student has made. Instead, ask the student if they could re-phrase their answer or to elaborate a bit more. If they are still having some difficulty, ask another student to help form the correct answer. Ask questions that students can think for themselves (McComas & Abraham, 2004).

Avoid answering your own question by giving students a few seconds to form a good answer.

• Engage other students by having them answer the question of one of their peers. It has been shown that students can learn from other students if given the opportunity to do so.

  Questions to Ask Students at the End of Class

• “What questions do you still have about today’s topic?”
• “If you were to ask one last question, what would it be?”
• “What was the muddiest point today?”
• “What was the most meaningful point we covered today?”
• Ask end-of –class questions to help students synthesize the information and draw conclusions. Their responses to one last question and muddiest point can be submitted for your review—you can address student issues at the beginning of the next class period or review to clarify content.
• Make notes about how students responded to questions asked during the class as well as the type of questions students asked of you. These notes can help you prepare for and modify subsequent classes (Gross Davis, 1993 citing Kasulis).

Questions to Ask Students Outside the Classroom

• “Please take particular note of pages 13-14 of Kaisha’s article in which he comments on decision-making in Japanese business. Recall our discussion of decision-making in the American auto industry last week. What comparisons and contrasts can you draw between the two approaches to decision making? We will be using these two approaches in a simulated decision-making exercise Thursday” (Meyers and Jones, 1993, p. 129).
• What [material from] the chapter do you think we should review?
• What item in the chapter surprised you?
• What topic in the chapter can you apply to your own experience? (Meyers and Jones, 1993, p. 130 citing Gaede).
• Finally, use online discussion boards to pose questions that can help extend course content asynchronously. Online discussion boards give students extra time to form their answers and can benefit those students who are less inclined to join in on face-to-face class discussions.

Using questions in the classroom can help students engage with course content, the instructor, and other students. Good instructor-generated questions can also guide students in developing better answers and help them to form questions of their own.

Good instructor-generated questions can also guide students in developing ... questions of their own.

Bain, K. (2004). What the best college teachers do. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Eble, K. E. (1988). The craft of teaching (2nd.ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

Gross Davis, B. (1993). Tools for teaching. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

Meyers, C., & Jones, T. B. (1993). Promoting active learning: Strategies for the college classroom. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

McComas, W. F., & Abraham, L. (2004). Asking more effective questions. http://cet.usc.edu/resources/teaching_learning/docs/Asking_Better_Questions.pdf

Selected Resources

Suggested citation

Northern Illinois University Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. (2012). Questioning strategies to engage students. In Instructional guide for university faculty and teaching assistants. Retrieved from https://www.niu.edu/citl/resources/guides/instructional-guide

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Classroom Q&A

With larry ferlazzo.

In this EdWeek blog, an experiment in knowledge-gathering, Ferlazzo will address readers’ questions on classroom management, ELL instruction, lesson planning, and other issues facing teachers. Send your questions to [email protected]. Read more from this blog.

10 Strategies for Encouraging Students to Ask Questions

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(This is the first post in a four-part series.)

The new question-of-the-week is:

How can we encourage students to develop their own questions? And, once they create them, what’s next?

Questioning is an essential part of any classroom. Oftentimes, however, it’s the teacher asking them or students asking fairly simple informative ones.

What can educators do to help students develop the skills, appetite, and confidence to develop and ask questions that are deeper and more higher-order ones?

We’ll explore that issue in this four-part series.

Today, Mary Beth Nicklaus, Kevin Parr, Silvina Jover, and Andrea Clark offer their suggestions. Mary Beth and Kevin were also guests on my 10-minute BAM! Radio Show . You can also find a list of, and links to, previous shows here.

You might also be interested in The Best Posts & Articles About Asking Good Questions .

Building on Students’ ‘Natural Curiosity’

Mary Beth Nicklaus is a teacher and literacy coach/specialist at Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle School in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.:

Students K-12 are already wired to seek out knowledge in their areas of interest. Teachers can use that natural curiosity to guide them into inquiry-based instruction where students learn to develop questions. Here is a sample activity where question-building culminates in student-led discussion:

• Choose a subject or reading which will inspire students. In my case, I present a rewritten version of the traditional story of “Jack and the Bean Stalk” to 7 th graders in an ELA class. I place the reading on the Kami platform. The students hop onto the shared document. As we read through it together, I share my thoughts and write down questions. I also present a mini-lesson on interpretation-level questions. These questions are based on the readers’ “interpretation” of text, and they can start with words like “why” or “how.” These questions are more open-ended and allow for sharing opinions in discussion rather than questions like, “What color was Little Red Riding Hood’s hood?” Questions rooted in higher-order thinking invite students to share more of themselves and their viewpoints.
• Encourage students to develop their questions: After finishing the read-along question-writing activity, we revisit the story. Students can do this part as a homework assignment, or you can do it together as a class. With Kami, students have the option to video or audio record, or they can write a question or comment in the margins. Discussions or questions may come up at this point. (If you have given this as homework, have students share during the next class period.)

Once students have created their own questions, schedule a discussion: For “Beanstalk,” we get back on the document. One by one, students steer us to where their question is either recorded or written. We discuss. Our conversations inspire debate, or more questions. Someone asks, “Why did Jack keep going back for more of the Giant’s wealth when he and his mother already had the Goose that laid the golden eggs? Was he greedy?” Some students agree that Jack is greedy. Someone else argues that perhaps Jack is addicted to wealth the way people are addicted to video games or drugs. This produces more questions and debate about the nature of addiction.

Based on student background, experience, and textual interpretation, opinions will differ. Students use text to support their answers. This question about Jack being greedy or addicted brings a plethora of impassioned answers from students. It also brings more questions and more discussion possibly lasting the entire class period. You may see the quietest students are the ones who suddenly step into leading discussions. They are also the ones who may start hanging around after the bell rings to expound on the ideas they presented in class. Warning: The discussions stemming from student questions can be an exhilarating confidence builder for the most introverted of students!

An exit ticket helps students reflect on and cement their thinking. You can ask an evaluative question like, “What idea or questions made you reflect the most today?” Consistency in assigning end-of-the-class summaries build connection between reflection and communication. Throughout the school year, teachers can continue to build both skills and confidence by allowing students a hand in developing questions for learning.

‘Is It Safe to Wonder Here?’

Kevin Parr is a 1st grade teacher in Wenatchee, Wash., and is a 2014 ASCD Emerging Leader:

All teachers want students to be curious, wonder, and develop their own questions about the world. Fortunately, kids are naturally curious. The tricky part, however, is that teachers can either promote a child’s innate curiosity or squelch it by how they respond to their questions. To put it another way, encouraging students to develop and ask their own questions is directly linked to how teachers respond to their students’ questions.

Asking questions, especially in a large group setting like a classroom, is a risk. When students ask questions, they risk adverse responses from their peers, and most importantly, their teachers. Teachers play a vital role in this because their reaction will create the tone for the rest of the class. Before we get into specifics, I would like us to keep in mind that students, whether asking questions directly or observing their peers ask questions, are judging the classroom and asking themselves, “Is it safe to wonder here?”

Fortunately, teachers can promote student questioning by filtering their responses based on the immediacy of the need and connection to the learning at hand.

Immediate response : Often, kids will pose on-the-spot questions that highlight misconceptions concerning the topic or skill that is being addressed. These questions need to be addressed immediately and concretely. If not, the misconceptions will be cemented, and no further learning will occur. Teachers do this necessary reteaching every minute of every day.

Need to Know : Sometimes questions come up that are related to a topic being explored in class. A “Need to Know” list is an important part of project-based learning and can be used even if the teacher is not doing a full project-based-learning experience. In short, a “Need to Know” list captures all questions that can lead to a better understanding of the topic or phenomenon being studied. After any learning, the list is revisited to see if any questions were answered or if further questions arose. It is a wonderful way to acknowledge student questions, tailor learning to their curiosity, and also invites students to create more questions as their knowledge of the topic develops.

Questions left to wonder : Any teacher will tell you that children have many questions that have nothing to do with the learning at hand. Yet, these questions, and our response to them, are important to a child’s learning. The conundrum is that we want kids to have questions, but we want the right questions at the right time. This, however, rarely happens. These “random” questions, however, are critical in encouraging children to continue to wonder. Our response is critical. One way to acknowledge these questions is to have a “wonder wall” where questions live until they are responded to. One thing to keep in mind is that even in this age of Google, it is OK, and even beneficial, to let some questions linger without answers.

Let’s imagine that there is that one student who has been wanting to ask a question and has finally built the courage to ask. A response from the teacher that ensures safety and demonstrates that the question has value is the only way to encourage further questioning.

‘A Critical-Thinking-Driven Classroom’

Silvina Jover is a bilingual social studies teacher in Las Vegas. Originally from Uruguay, she has been an educator and advocate for immigrant students and their families in the U.S. for the past seven years:

A critical-thinking-driven classroom is one of the most intellectually stimulating and emotionally rewarding spaces we will encounter as both humans and educators. It is an easier space to create than what many teachers think simply because the American educational mindset is so engraved in the standardized-testing culture.

Humans are curious by nature, and this is exactly the place to begin with our students. First and foremost, it is up to each teacher to develop an interesting and thought-provoking introduction to any given topic. At the secondary school level, students appreciate facts and statistics, and I tend to lead with that followed by a very simple question: “Why?” Once I get some responses, I ask my students to dig deeper into that thought, repeatedly, until they find themselves asking that same question. And that’s exactly the moment to start guiding our students into creating their own questions.

If done successfully, you would have walked your students through an informal inquiry-design model of pedagogy. Informal because this process was done igniting our students’ prior knowledge with the objective of catching their attention to what they are about to learn but creating a space that allows for them to choose the details and depth of that particular topic. To dive more into the inquiry-design model, I recommend looking into the Swan, Lee & Grant book published by the National Council for the Social Studies and adapt it to your own field, as needed.

Another, more structured way of having students create their own questions is by pseudo-flipping the classroom. I’ve done an activity for many years and with much success that I’ve named “Flip the Quiz.” It entails having your students create a summative assessment. As educators, we all know the complexities of a well-rounded assessment, from its objective to the cognitive rigor to measure the breadth and depth of knowledge. And that’s exactly what you want your students to ultimately acquire. The key is to have them create critical-thinking examinations similar to DBQs (Document-Based Questions), which mainly contain questions that require certain levels of analytical skills, as well as open-ended questions. Similar to our own practice, their activity will be guided by its own set of requirements, which could be presented in a rubric or checklist format.

How to use this student-created assessment? Let your students continue being the instructors by allowing them to create the answer key and/or the rubric for the test they created. Additionally, you can have your students take each other’s tests and then create a dialogical circle for students to provide feedback and their rationale behind it.

Developing critical-thinking skills takes an incredible amount of time, but the growth both emotionally and academically is, indeed, rewarding.

‘Notice and Wonder’

Andrea Clark is a 5-7th grade math and language arts teacher in Austin, Texas. She has a master’s in STEM education and has been teaching for over 10 years:

What if math class was more about the question than the solution? What if students wrote their own questions, like real mathematicians? Through student-generated questions, I’ve seen my students 1) get better at asking questions, 2) be more engaged with math class, and 3) do more (and better) math.

A strategy that I have had success with is called “Notice and Wonder” (which is effective in all subject areas, not just math). I put a problem on the board (a word problem, a diagram, a set of numbers, anything), without a question , and ask students what they notice. Your job is to write it all down, without judgment. Once they notice, they wonder. Again, write it all down. Sometimes, students come up with the “right” question (the problem’s original question), and sometimes they don’t. The goal is to get as many questions as possible, even if you decide to go with the “right” question in the end.

Once you have your questions, everyone can pursue the same question (in the whole group or small groups), or small groups of students can explore their own questions. Make sure to leave time for students to share their strategies with the class (even if they are all working on the same question). I prefer to have each small group choose their own questions because it increases the math being done in the room and it also shows students that what they wonder about matters and is worthy of spending precious classroom time exploring.

There are a couple of things to consider during your lesson planning:

• Does the specific content matter today? If so, make sure the “right” question gets into the question-brainstorming time by submitting it yourself or asking another student to do so. Then, encourage your students to choose the “right” question as part of a whole-class or small-group discussion (their other questions can also be added in at any point).
• Is time a factor? You can make this process as short or long as you want. I have used it as the whole lesson and I have used it as a warm-up or closing for a lesson: brainstorming questions today, picking one to solve tomorrow.
• Are your students “bad” at asking questions? Have your students practice the Notice and Wonder routine without solving anything; it’s a great warm-up, as this routine can work with any content. The more opportunities they get to ask questions, the better they get at asking questions. Just try it!
• Are you nervous about letting your students choose the questions? It’s OK if you aren’t comfortable with letting students choose their own questions right away. Start with noticing. Then add in wondering, planting the “right” question. Then add in a few choices of questions that the whole class is interested in. There isn’t one way to do it. Every time the students practice, they get more comfortable with it, and so do you.
• Are your students asking “bad” questions? I work at an IB school, and questions are an integral part of our teaching and learning, but that doesn’t necessarily mean my students are good at it by the time they get to me in middle school. My goal is to move them from quantity (“Look! I can ask a lot of questions!”) to quality (“I have questions that I actually care about.”). Ask your students: Is that a question you are interested in solving? If not, give me one that you care about! You get to be in charge! Make the question a good one! (That conversation usually helps students move away from more shallow questions.) It’s also good to model different levels of questions, so your students know what makes a “good” question. Give them some questions to sort into different categories and make a rubric for good questions together. Practice, practice, practice.

I encourage you to try the Notice and Wonder routine in your math (or any) classroom. It can be rough at first, but it gets better, and the end result is worth it: You have students collaborating, doing math, and answering questions that they care about. That’s a good math class.

Thanks to Mary Beth, Kevin, Silvina, and Andrea for their contributions!

Please feel free to leave a comment with your reactions to the topic or directly to anything that has been said in this post.

Consider contributing a question to be answered in a future post. You can send one to me at [email protected] . When you send it in, let me know if I can use your real name if it’s selected or if you’d prefer remaining anonymous and have a pseudonym in mind.

You can also contact me on Twitter at @Larryferlazzo .

Education Week has published a collection of posts from this blog, along with new material, in an e-book form. It’s titled Classroom Management Q&As: Expert Strategies for Teaching .

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7 Tips for Teaching Students How to Ask Questions in Class

• June 28, 2021

One of the best ways you can help your students understand a concept is by teaching how to voice their questions as they learn. This not only gives you an opportunity to address areas your students don’t yet understand, it also promotes rich opportunities for classroom discussion.

Read on to learn how questions help students learn more fully from you and each other. Then, discover seven quick tips that will help you both encourage and teach students to ask questions in class.

The Importance of Asking Questions

Asking and answering questions in class allows students to engage in two-way communication with you.[2] You (and they) are better able to understand their thinking, and they can use your support to solve problems themselves. It also gives other students an opportunity to share their socio-cultural experiences about a question and learn from one another.

Plus, encouraging students to ask questions can help you pinpoint gaps in their understanding.[3] It’s a simple way to determine and focus on the topics where a student may need more practice. Even if only one child asks the question, other students may have the same question but feel too nervous to speak out.

Best of all, students are more likely to understand new material if they ask questions. One study found that when elementary students were taught to ask questions during science lessons, they could discuss what they had learned on a more complex level.[4] Teach students how to ask questions so they understand the material at a level well beyond just memorization.

7 Tips for Teaching and Encouraging Students to Ask Questions

Now that you know why asking questions is a critical part of the learning process for your students, let’s learn how to apply this to your classroom. These seven tips willnot only help your students feel confident asking questions but improve the quality of the questions they ask, too.

Make your Classroom Environment a Safe Place for Questions

Some children may feel anxious asking questions, especially if they’re not familiar with the subject you’re discussing in class. Educator Warren Berger recommends letting your students know that questions are always welcome in class and that they will not be judged for asking them.[8]

Reframe the idea of questions so that students see them not as a sign of weakness, but as a way to learn as much as they can about a topic. That way, they’re more likely to come to you when they don’t understand something instead of hiding it from you.

Praise Students for Asking Questions

Showing students you appreciate and respect their questions can boost their confidence as a learner.[6] After a student asks a question in class, for example, you could say “Interesting point, David!” or “I’m glad you asked.”

Also, try to praise students equally for the act of asking a question. If a student feels that you’re shutting their questions down, they may believe their questions are not as important as others’—and stop asking.

Teach your Students About Open-Ended and Closed Questions

Teaching students how to ask good questions is just as important as encouraging them to do so. By teaching your students about open-ended questions, you can help students focus on asking meaningful and clear questions as they learn.

Open-ended questions are those that cannot be answered by a single word or phrase and that encourage students to use critical thinking skills.[9] Closed questions generally have one right answer, whether that is a simple “yes” or “no” or a specific phrase.

For example, if you’re teaching social studies, a closed question would be one like “Who was the first president of the United States?” However, an open-ended question like “How would you describe George Washington’s legacy?” gives students more than one “right” answer and requires more thinking, analysis, and synthesis.

Open-ended questions are often helpful to ask in discussions because they allow for diverse perspectives.[10] Keep in mind, however, that there is a time and place for both open-ended and closed questions. When teaching basic math, like multiplication, closed-ended questions are often more appropriate.

Slow Down to Leave Room for Questions

Rushing through material too quickly can leave students confused and too overwhelmed to bring up their questions. When teaching new or difficult topics, try to slow down and offer plenty of space for students to ask questions about the parts they don’t understand.[5]

Provide Opportunities to Practice Asking Questions

Learning to ask questions can be just as important as the answers themselves. One way to encourage students to ask questions with more depth is by assigning them to create questions about a class topic.

For example, educator Jackie Walsh suggests making a homework assignment in which students must list both open-ended and closed questions about a subject.[7] You can even have students ask these questions to each other the next day as part of your classroom discussion.

Include Time for Student Reflection

Allow students time to contemplate their own questions, as this can be an opportunity for them to practice their critical thinking skills. Additionally, educator John McCarthy suggests giving your classroom a few seconds to think together after you or a student asks a question.[11] That way, students have time to sit with the question and consider their responses in a more thoughtful way.

Try Alternatives to “Are There Any Questions?”

According to University of Chicago Center for Teaching expert Brandon Cline, this phrase can can discourage students from asking questions and doesn’t help you evaluate what they do understand.[1]

Instead, try more motivating ways to elicit questions. If you are teaching your students how to multiply numbers, for example, you could say, “I know multiplication is tough at first. Is there anything we should review again?”

• Cline, B. Asking Effective Questions . Chicago Center for Teaching. University of Chicago. https://teaching.uchicago.edu/resources/teaching-strategies/asking-effective-questions/.
• Berkeley Graduate Student Instructor Teaching & Resource Center Staff. Asking Effective Questions . https://gsi.berkeley.edu/gsi-guide-contents/lab-sections-intro/effective-questions/.
• Nayfeld, I. Always-On Inquiry: Why You Should Be Asking More Questions In Your Classroom . TeachThought. https://www.teachthought.com/critical-thinking/always-on-inquiry-asking-more-questions-classroom/.
• Chin, C., and Osborne, J. Students’ questions: a potential resource for teaching and learning science . Studies in Science Education, February 2008, 44(1).
• Spenser, J. Helping Students Ask Better Questions by Creating a Culture of Inquiry . The Synapse. November 16, 2017. https://medium.com/synapse/helping-students-ask-better-questions-by-creating-a-culture-of-inquiry-d1c4b0324a6f.
• Tenney School Staff. Encouraging Students to Ask (Better) Questions in Class . January 25, 2019. https://tenneyschool.com/encouraging-students-ask-better-questions-class/.
• Walsh, J. How to Get Your Students to Ask More Questions . Middle Web: All About the Middle Grades. May 27, 2019. https://www.middleweb.com/40383/how-to-get-your-students-to-ask-more-questions/.
• Berger, W. 5 Ways to Help Your Students Become Better Questioners. Edutopia. August 14, 2014. https://www.edutopia.org/blog/help-students-become-better-questioners-warren-berger.
• Sesay-St. Paul, M. Forming Open-Ended Questions . Scholastic. https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/lesson-plans/teaching-content/forming-open-ended-questions/.
• Responsive Classroom Staff. Open-Ended Questions . February 1, 2007. https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/open-ended-questions/
• McCarthy, J. Extending the Silence . Edutopia. January 10, 2018. https://www.edutopia.org/article/extending-silence.

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21 Getting To Know You Questions To Ask Students – Perfect For First Day Back To School Fun

Table of Contents

How to use these fun getting to know you questions for students, quick list of icebreaker getting to know you questions to ask students.

• 1. What name do you like to be called in class?
• 2. What are you looking forward to in school this year?
• 3. What do you like the least about school?

4. If you could look back at the end of the school year, how would you describe a successful year? What advice would you give yourself to make it an even better year?

• 5.      What can I, as your teacher, do to help you be inspired this year?

6. Think about your favorite teacher you’ve had so far. What are the characteristics of this teacher that you like?

• 7. What do you love, are you passionate about, that which you believe strongly in or feel strongly about?

8. What is your best quality or greatest strength?

• 9. What online software, websites, and apps do you use to help you study and with projects?

10. What new technology are you interested in trying this year?

11. which 5-7 words best describe you how do friends describe you, 12. what are your hobbies or interests, 13. what stood out for you during your summer holidays describe your summer in one to three sentences., 14. what career(s) would you like to pursue give at least one career., 15 would you like to attend college if so, which colleges are your top three, 16. tell me something you want me as a teacher to know about you., 17. how do you study, 18. if you were the teacher, a leader, or someone who influences society, what would you do differently, 19. what does your daily life look like describe it in 5-7 words., 20. what is the most valuable thing anyone has ever told you or what you have read, 21. what does creativity mean to you give an example of you being creative..

It’s the first day of a new school year, and with it comes an entirely fresh group of students in your classroom.  Each of these children has their own story – their own unique dreams, fears, and goals.

And you know none of them.

Over time, you certainly will uncover these nuggets of information.  But one way to speed up the process is to have students take some time on the first day of class to answer a series of fun icebreaker questions for the classroom.  I have a list that I compiled from speaking with and reading educators and asking them what get to know you questions they ask their new students.

Tip: Have Them Write The Answers Out

Instead of asking the first day of school questions to students out loud, give them a printed sheet and have them write out their responses. It is amazing what you learn about them by asking these questions. Some students won’t verbally tell you what they are prepared to write on paper. Others need the luxury of time to organize their thoughts – time that’s not available when put on the spot in front of a new class full of students. We have a COMPLETELY FREE handout you can use and change. Just click the button below to download the Word file.

“Getting to know you” questions are an excellent way to foster positive relationships between students and educators. By asking thoughtful and engaging questions, teachers can create a welcoming and inclusive environment where students feel valued and understood. To make the most of these questions, follow the guidelines below:

• Set the Right Tone With Your Icebreaker Questions: Begin by emphasizing the importance of open-mindedness, respect, and active listening. Encourage students to approach these questions with genuine curiosity and without judgment. Create an atmosphere where everyone’s perspectives and experiences are valued in your academic setting.
• Choose Relevant Questions: Select questions that are age-appropriate and relevant to your students’ interests and experiences. Consider the diversity within your classroom and try to include questions that cater to different backgrounds, cultures, and preferences. This will encourage students to engage more enthusiastically and ensure inclusivity.
• Create a Safe Space: Prioritize creating a safe and non-judgmental environment – this isn’t a debate but student thoughts and feelings. Remind students that their responses are personal, and it is important to respect one another’s boundaries. Encourage students to share only what they are comfortable with and remind them that they can pass on any question they do not wish to answer.
• Teachers Should Model Vulnerability: Share your own responses to the questions as a way to model vulnerability and encourage students to open up. This will help create a sense of community and show that everyone’s learning experiences and stories are valued.
• Active Listening: Teach and reinforce active listening skills during the session. Encourage students to focus on the person speaking, ask follow-up questions, and show genuine interest. Foster an environment where students feel heard and understood.
• Follow-Up Activities: Use the insights gained from these questions to plan follow-up activities that further foster connection and understanding among students. This could include group discussions, collaborative projects, or even guest speakers who can provide additional perspectives on the topics discussed.

By utilizing “getting to know you” questions effectively, educators can cultivate a positive classroom environment that celebrates diversity, encourages empathy, and promotes meaningful connections between students. Creating a safe space for sharing and active listening will help students feel valued, understood, and supported throughout their educational journey. Additional activities such as meaningful report card comments help as well.

Here are 21 questions you need to ask your students.

1. What name do you like to be called in class?

First things first – what is the student’s REAL name? I found the name on the official class register is not always the name the student prefers. Some students won’t necessarily volunteer this information if not prompted.  Often they would prefer a nickname or a shorter version of their name.  I think anything you can do to make a student more comfortable starting on the first day of school is a quick and easy win, and this is one way of doing just that.

2. What are you looking forward to in school this year?

This question helps set the stage for the upcoming year.  Students automatically reflect on the positive aspects of the previous year. It places them in a positive frame of mind for the school year. You may find out about their favorite subject or something as grand as their biggest dream. Regardless, I am certain the answer will help you get to know this child better.

3. What do you like the least about school?

I believe how a child answers this question can give insight into what the student is battling with at school. The difficulty may be easily resolved or have deeper issues that need to be addressed. Teachers aren’t necessarily aware of the difficulties the student may experience in school if it isn’t directly related to the schoolwork.

By imagining how a successful year looks like, motivates the student for the year. It also inspires the student to set goals to have a successful year. I think this is a great question for both primary and high school students alike.

5. What can I, as your teacher, do to help you be inspired this year?

The response to this question may spark new ideas for you as a teacher. The answer given may also be the idea that evokes motivation and passion in this student. I found this type of information extremely valuable.

By focusing on the characteristics and not the person, the student isn’t obliged to mention you as their favorite teacher. They can honestly describe the kind of teacher they relate with best. It is a good exercise for the teacher to know how they can improve to become better teachers.

7. What do you love, are you passionate about, that which you believe strongly in or feel strongly about?

As a teacher, you can better relate to a student if you know what their passion is. In my experience, what they strongly believe could be the key to unlocking their capabilities and transforming them into better students.

I believe this question allows the student to acknowledge their strength. It gives the teacher the opportunity to focus on the strength and to help the student grow in these qualities.

9. What online software, websites, and apps do you use to help you study and with projects?

It’s surprising how many online tools students use to help them with their schoolwork – it amazes me. This answer gives insight into the most common tools students use. It is an opportunity to incorporate these tools into the classroom framework.

I believe this question is a great opportunity to connect technology with education in an engaging manner. Google Drive and OneDrive are useful tools for sharing documents between students, and between teacher and student, for example. I found Edudemic and Educational Technology and Mobile Learning are two resources to assist teachers in using online tools.

These few words provide a wealth of information for the teacher. A student that takes the time to come up with words they think describe themselves is giving you a peek into their soul.  With six words, the student is telling the teacher how they see themselves and who they are.

This question is a great way to learn what your student does in their free time. It might be an insight into a favorite movie or video game, or maybe a favorite sport – all of which help you to get to know the student better.

The teacher can motivate the student to engage in these hobbies and interests, especially if possible, to do so at school. I think knowing what interests the student helps in connecting with the student and directing their interest.

This year might be a little different since one week seems to be a repeat of the last…but in one short sentence, your student will give you insight into their private lives. It might be a most unusual thing – like creating a favorite family recipe.

I think this is one of those icebreaker questions that might reveal something more serious or weighty. They may have experienced a happy or sad event during summer. It could influence their schoolwork. Knowing about it gives you insight into how to help the student.

Time to find out more about your student’s hopes and dreams! It’s a fun way to find out their biggest dream since at this age, a career is so far away in the future.

Of course, it’s a little closer for high school students.

The question allows the student to think about their aspiration. I believe it can be helpful in guiding the student toward their future.

Not everyone wants to go to college, and not every career requires a college education. I think the response helps the teacher to inspire the student to aspire to reach these goals.

This question gives the student the opportunity to relay anything they may feel is important for the teacher to know. It may be health issues, study difficulties, emotional trauma, or skills and abilities they excel in.

I think this is one of the most important questions to ask. Insight into how the student studies can start to help guide the teacher in teaching students improved study methods. It will also point to how a student would like to learn.

The reply will indicate the student’s aspirations and ambitions in life. It also indicates to what extent the student believes they can make a difference and if they want to.

I love this question. By describing their daily life, the student gives insight into how their lifestyle influences their studies. That which they do consistently describes their values. It also indicates how conscientious they are about homework and studying.

The response gives insight into what the student values most, based on what they believe. It also indicates how they will value learning.

Creativity is a soft skill that is becoming more and more important for success in society.  These questions create awareness of creativity and the different manners the student is creative.

Start the school year off right with fun questions for students for learning

Retha Groenewald is a professional writer working for FractusLearning. When not working with Fractus, she is web copywriter for the Christian market. Her writing is featured at Christian Web Copywriter and at Writing That Breathes Life.

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Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, the 5 best homework help websites (free and paid).

Other High School , General Education

Listen: we know homework isn’t fun, but it is a good way to reinforce the ideas and concepts you’ve learned in class. But what if you’re really struggling with your homework assignments? 

If you’ve looked online for a little extra help with your take-home assignments, you’ve probably stumbled across websites claiming to provide the homework help and answers students need to succeed . But can homework help sites really make a difference? And if so, which are the best homework help websites you can use? 

Below, we answer these questions and more about homework help websites–free and paid. We’ll go over: 

• The basics of homework help websites 
• The cost of homework help websites 
• The five best homework websites out there 
• The pros and cons of using these websites for homework help 
• The line between “learning” and “cheating” when using online homework help 
• Tips for getting the most out of a homework help website

So let’s get started! 

The Basics About Homework Help Websites–Free and Paid

Homework help websites are designed to help you complete your homework assignments, plain and simple. 

What Makes a Homework Help Site Worth Using

Most of the best sites allow users to ask questions and then provide an answer (or multiple possible answers) and explanation in seconds. In some instances, you can even send a photo of a particular assignment or problem instead of typing the whole thing out! 

Homework help sites also offer more than just help answering homework questions. Common services provided are Q&A with experts, educational videos, lectures, practice tests and quizzes, learning modules, math solving tools, and proofreading help. Homework help sites can also provide textbook solutions (i.e. answers to problems in tons of different textbooks your school might be using), one-on-one tutoring, and peer-to-peer platforms that allow you to discuss subjects you’re learning about with your fellow students. 

And best of all, nearly all of them offer their services 24/7, including tutoring! 

What You Should Should Look Out For

When it comes to homework help, there are lots–and we mean lots –of scam sites out there willing to prey on desperate students. Before you sign up for any service, make sure you read reviews to ensure you’re working with a legitimate company. 

A word to the wise: the more a company advertises help that veers into the territory of cheating, the more likely it is to be a scam. The best homework help websites are going to help you learn the concepts you’ll need to successfully complete your homework on your own. (We’ll go over the difference between “homework help” and “cheating” a little later!) 

You don't need a golden piggy bank to use homework help websites. Some provide low or no cost help for students like you!

How Expensive Are the Best Homework Help Websites?

First of all, just because a homework help site costs money doesn’t mean it’s a good service. Likewise, just because a homework help website is free doesn’t mean the help isn’t high quality. To find the best websites, you have to take a close look at the quality and types of information they provide! 

When it comes to paid homework help services, the prices vary pretty widely depending on the amount of services you want to subscribe to. Subscriptions can cost anywhere from $2 to $150 dollars per month, with the most expensive services offering several hours of one-on-one tutoring with a subject expert per month.

The 5 Best Homework Help Websites 

So, what is the best homework help website you can use? The answer is that it depends on what you need help with. 

The best homework help websites are the ones that are reliable and help you learn the material. They don’t just provide answers to homework questions–they actually help you learn the material. 

That’s why we’ve broken down our favorite websites into categories based on who they’re best for . For instance, the best website for people struggling with math might not work for someone who needs a little extra help with science, and vice versa. 

Keep reading to find the best homework help website for you! 

Best Free Homework Help Site: Khan Academy

• Price: Free!
• Best for: Practicing tough material 

Not only is Khan Academy free, but it’s full of information and can be personalized to suit your needs. When you set up your account , you choose which courses you need to study, and Khan Academy sets up a personal dashboard of instructional videos, practice exercises, and quizzes –with both correct and incorrect answer explanations–so you can learn at your own pace. 

As an added bonus, it covers more course topics than many other homework help sites, including several AP classes.

Runner Up: Brainly.com offers a free service that allows you to type in questions and get answers and explanations from experts. The downside is that you’re limited to two answers per question and have to watch ads. 

Best Paid Homework Help Site: Chegg

• Price: $14.95 to $19.95 per month
• Best for: 24/7 homework assistance  

This service has three main parts . The first is Chegg Study, which includes textbook solutions, Q&A with subject experts, flashcards, video explanations, a math solver, and writing help. The resources are thorough, and reviewers state that Chegg answers homework questions quickly and accurately no matter when you submit them.  

Chegg also offers textbook rentals for students who need access to textbooks outside of their classroom. Finally, Chegg offers Internship and Career Advice for students who are preparing to graduate and may need a little extra help with the transition out of high school. 

Another great feature Chegg provides is a selection of free articles geared towards helping with general life skills, like coping with stress and saving money. Chegg’s learning modules are comprehensive, and they feature solutions to the problems in tons of different textbooks in a wide variety of subjects. 

Runner Up: Bartleby offers basically the same services as Chegg for $14.99 per month. The reason it didn’t rank as the best is based on customer reviews that say user questions aren’t answered quite as quickly on this site as on Chegg. Otherwise, this is also a solid choice!

Best Site for Math Homework Help: Photomath

• Price: Free (or $59.99 per year for premium services) 
• Best for: Explaining solutions to math problems

This site allows you to t ake a picture of a math problem, and instantly pulls up a step-by-step solution, as well as a detailed explanation of the concept. Photomath also includes animated videos that break down mathematical concepts to help you better understand and remember them. 

The basic service is free, but for an additional fee you can get extra study tools and learn additional strategies for solving common math problems.

Runner Up: KhanAcademy offers in-depth tutorials that cover complex math topics for free, but you won’t get the same tailored help (and answers!) that Photomath offers. 

Best Site for English Homework Help: Princeton Review Academic Tutoring

• Price: $40 to $153 per month, depending on how many hours of tutoring you want 
• Best for: Comprehensive and personalized reading and writing help 

While sites like Grammarly and Sparknotes help you by either proofreading what you write via an algorithm or providing book summaries, Princeton Review’s tutors provide in-depth help with vocabulary, literature, essay writing and development, proofreading, and reading comprehension. And unlike other services, you’ll have the chance to work with a real person to get help. 

The best part is that you can get on-demand English (and ESL) tutoring from experts 24/7. That means you can get help whenever you need it, even if you’re pulling an all-nighter! 

This is by far the most expensive homework site on this list, so you’ll need to really think about what you need out of a homework help website before you commit. One added benefit is that the subscription covers over 80 other subjects, including AP classes, which can make it a good value if you need lots of help!  

Best Site for STEM Homework Help: Studypool

• Best for: Science homework help
• Price: Varies; you’ll pay for each question you submit

When it comes to science homework help, there aren’t a ton of great resources out there. The best of the bunch is Studypool, and while it has great reviews, there are some downsides as well. 

Let’s start with the good stuff. Studypool offers an interesting twist on the homework help formula. After you create a free account, you can submit your homework help questions, and tutors will submit bids to answer your questions. You’ll be able to select the tutor–and price point–that works for you, then you’ll pay to have your homework question answered. You can also pay a small fee to access notes, lectures, and other documents that top tutors have uploaded. 

The downside to Studypool is that the pricing is not transparent . There’s no way to plan for how much your homework help will cost, especially if you have lots of questions! Additionally, it’s not clear how tutors are selected, so you’ll need to be cautious when you choose who you’d like to answer your homework questions.  

What Are the Pros and Cons of Using Homework Help Sites?

Homework help websites can be a great resource if you’re struggling in a subject, or even if you just want to make sure that you’re really learning and understanding topics and ideas that you’re interested in. But, there are some possible drawbacks if you don’t use these sites responsibly. 

We’ll go over the good–and the not-so-good–aspects of getting online homework help below. 

3 Pros of Using Homework Help Websites 

First, let’s take a look at the benefits. 

#1: Better Grades Beyond Homework

This is a big one! Getting outside help with your studies can improve your understanding of concepts that you’re learning, which translates into better grades when you take tests or write essays. 

Remember: homework is designed to help reinforce the concepts you learned in class. If you just get easy answers without learning the material behind the problems, you may not have the tools you need to be successful on your class exams…or even standardized tests you’ll need to take for college. 

#2: Convenience

One of the main reasons that online homework help is appealing is because it’s flexible and convenient. You don’t have to go to a specific tutoring center while they’re open or stay after school to speak with your teacher. Instead, you can access helpful resources wherever you can access the internet, whenever you need them.

This is especially true if you tend to study at off hours because of your extracurriculars, work schedule, or family obligations. Sites that offer 24/7 tutoring can give you the extra help you need if you can’t access the free resources that are available at your school. 

#3: Variety

Not everyone learns the same way. Maybe you’re more of a visual learner, but your teacher mostly does lectures. Or maybe you learn best by listening and taking notes, but you’re expected to learn something just from reading the textbook . 

One of the best things about online homework help is that it comes in a variety of forms. The best homework help sites offer resources for all types of learners, including videos, practice activities, and even one-on-one discussions with real-life experts. 

This variety can also be a good thing if you just don’t really resonate with the way a concept is being explained (looking at you, math textbooks!).

Not so fast. There are cons to homework help websites, too. Get to know them below!

3 Cons of Using Homework Help Websites 

Now, let’s take a look at the drawbacks of online homework help. 

#1: Unreliable Info

This can be a real problem. In addition to all the really good homework help sites, there are a whole lot of disreputable or unreliable sites out there. The fact of the matter is that some homework help sites don’t necessarily hire people who are experts in the subjects they’re talking about. In those cases, you may not be getting the accurate, up-to-date, and thorough information you need.

Additionally, even the great sites may not be able to answer all of your homework questions. This is especially true if the site uses an algorithm or chatbot to help students…or if you’re enrolled in an advanced or college-level course. In these cases, working with your teacher or school-provided tutors are probably your best option. 

#2: No Clarification

This depends on the service you use, of course. But the majority of them provide free or low-cost help through pre-recorded videos. Watching videos or reading info online can definitely help you with your homework… but you can’t ask questions or get immediate feedback if you need it .

#3: Potential For Scamming 

Like we mentioned earlier, there are a lot of homework help websites out there, and lots of them are scams. The review comments we read covered everything from outdated or wrong information, to misleading claims about the help provided, to not allowing people to cancel their service after signing up. 

No matter which site you choose to use, make sure you research and read reviews before you sign up–especially if it’s a paid service! 

When Does “Help” Become “Cheating”?

Admittedly, whether using homework help websites constitutes cheating is a bit of a grey area. For instance, is it “help” when a friend reads your essay for history class and corrects your grammar, or is it “cheating”? The truth is, not everyone agrees on when “help” crosses the line into “cheating .” When in doubt, it can be a good idea to check with your teacher to see what they think about a particular type of help you want to get. 

That said, a general rule of thumb to keep in mind is to make sure that the assignment you turn in for credit is authentically yours . It needs to demonstrate your own thoughts and your own current abilities. Remember: the point of every homework assignment is to 1) help you learn something, and 2) show what you’ve learned. 

So if a service answers questions or writes essays for you, there’s a good chance using it constitutes cheating. 

Here’s an example that might help clarify the difference for you. Brainstorming essay ideas with others or looking online for inspiration is “help” as long as you write the essay yourself. Having someone read it and give you feedback about what you need to change is also help, provided you’re the one that makes the changes later. 

But copying all or part of an essay you find online or having someone write (or rewrite) the whole thing for you would be “cheating.” The same is true for other subjects. Ultimately, if you’re not generating your own work or your own answers, it’s probably cheating.

5 Tips for Finding the Best Homework Help Websites for You

Now that you know some of our favorite homework help websites, free and paid, you can start doing some additional research on your own to decide which services might work best for you! Here are some top tips for choosing a homework help website. 

Tip 1: Decide How You Learn Best 

Before you decide which site or sites you’re going to use for homework help, y ou should figure out what kind of learning style works for you the most. Are you a visual learner? Then choose a site that uses lots of videos to help explain concepts. If you know you learn best by actually doing tasks, choose a site that provides lots of practice exercises.

Tip 2: Determine Which Subjects You Need Help With

Just because a homework help site is good overall doesn’t mean that it’s equally good for every subject. If you only need help in math, choose a site that specializes in that area. But if history is where you’re struggling, a site that specializes in math won’t be much help. So make sure to choose a site that you know provides high-quality help in the areas you need it most. 

Tip 3: Decide How Much One-On-One Help You Need 

This is really about cost-effectiveness. If you learn well on your own by reading and watching videos, a free site like Khan Academy is a good choice. But if you need actual tutoring, or to be able to ask questions and get personalized answers from experts, a paid site that provides that kind of service may be a better option.

Tip 4: Set a Budget 

If you decide you want to go with a paid homework help website, set a budget first . The prices for sites vary wildly, and the cost to use them can add up quick. 

Tip 5: Read the Reviews

Finally, it’s always a good idea to read actual reviews written by the people using these homework sites. You’ll learn the good, the bad, and the ugly of what the users’ experiences have been. This is especially true if you intend to subscribe to a paid service. You’ll want to make sure that users think it’s worth the price overall!

What’s Next?

If you want to get good grades on your homework, it’s a good idea to learn how to tackle it strategically. Our expert tips will help you get the most out of each assignment…and boost your grades in the process. 

Doing well on homework assignments is just one part of getting good grades. We’ll teach you everything you need to know about getting great grades in high school in this article. 

Of course, test grades can make or break your GPA, too. Here are 17 expert tips that’ll help you get the most out of your study prep before you take an exam. 

Need more help? Check out Tutorbase!

Our vetted tutor database includes a range of experienced educators who can help you polish an essay for English or explain how derivatives work for Calculus. You can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs.

Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.

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Top 16 Student Survey Questions for Student Feedback

Student survey questions are a quick and intelligent way to collect accurate and honest information from students and alumni about school-related issues. With the help of this tool, all the people studying in an institution share their thoughts, keeping them on the path to success.

A student survey or school survey is carried out to gather the opinion of students on various aspects of their educational institute. Each survey question must be framed so that the answer can benefit the performance of the school site. Let’s talk about that.

LEARN ABOUT: Testimonial Questions

What are the types of student surveys?

Educational institutes run multiple student surveys for colleges or schools to gather feedback about various topics. Here’s a list of some popular survey questions for students:

• School climate surveys: These surveys address issues like student-teacher relationships, faculty involvement, student mental health, student tobacco, alcohol, and drug use, and student relationships.
• Student mental health and bullying surveys: It is highly essential to assess student mental health and address issues at the beginning before they bloom into bigger ones. Institutes must run surveys like peer relationship surveys, bullying behaviors, childhood trauma , social skills surveys, and substance abuse surveys to identify their mental health .
• Course evaluation surveys:   Student feedback is vital to understanding the shortcomings of courses and identifying gaps that impact learning. As students are the best critics on courses, you must run surveys to capture their feedback about the class to make their learning experience more fun and fruitful.
• Faculty evaluation surveys : Students and faculty interact almost daily. The faculty must get feedback from students about different aspects like preparedness, subject matter knowledge, problem-solving approach, grading, time management, talent management , etc. to name a few. The institute also keeps track of student feedback to help teachers deliver the best education that suits students’ needs.

LEARN ABOUT: course evaluation survey examples

What are student survey questions?

Student feedback is essential for teachers and academic institutes to improve continuously. If you work in academia, it is a great idea to know the perceptions and opinions of students. Educational institutes conduct surveys to gather actionable feedback from students about the institute and its faculty. Schools run surveys for kids at the start, the middle, or the end of the academic year.

Frame questions in a way that the answer to each question benefits the educational institute in one form or another. Survey students to improve the educational institute’s overall functioning by analyzing the feedback received from student surveys.

Top 16 student survey questions for academic feedback

Here are the top 16 student survey questions to capture academic feedback. We’ve divided them into two categories – Questions about the class and issues about the teacher.

Student perception survey questions about the class

Academic institutions continuously run course experience surveys among students to know more about their feelings towards the classes. Here are some essential questions to ask students.

1. Which activities in the classroom do you enjoy the most?

• Treasure Hunt

Teachers are generally aware of the most loved classroom activities, but knowing it directly from the students is an assurance. An assurance that students enjoy the tasks performed in class.

2. Given a chance, what is one change that you would like to see?

• Teaching method
• Time taken to complete a chapter
• Extracurricular activities

A student’s opinion is always unadulterated; it feels like a breath of fresh air in teaching monotony. Gain insights about what the students think the teacher or the institute must do differently and regularly implement these changes.

Learn more about academic surveys here !

3. Do you have supportive classmates?

• Yes, extremely supportive
• They are neither supportive nor unsupportive
• No, extremely unsupportive

Growing up, every child needs a productive ecosystem. Schools and universities are among the most influential parts of a child’s ecosystem, and support of classmates/friends matters to each child. Analyze whether the child is having trouble with his/her classmates. Check whether the lack of support is disrupting their overall growth.

4. What motivates you to learn more?

• Asking a lot of questions to the teacher
• Completing various assignments
• Sports and other extracurricular activities

If conducted at the beginning of the year, this survey can be encouraging to the students and insightful for teachers. Teachers can create their lesson plans according to the response to this question. By including this question in a student survey conducted towards the end of the year can help boost a student’s confidence in making their own academic decisions.

5. Do you think that the school provides you with adequate sports facilities?

Sports is a very good teacher. and is essential for the overall development of the student. It helps them build a strong mind. Ensure to provide students with adequate sports facilities to keep their minds strong.

Student perception survey questions about the teacher

Teacher feedback is also essential for the institute. Here are some critical questions to ask about the teachers and faculty members:

6. On a scale of 0-10, please rate your teacher – This rating scale question is the most basic yet essential question for a teacher. Ratings reflect the teacher’s performance. In case the average score is 8 or above, it indicates that the teacher’s work is appreciated and needs to be maintained. In other instances where the ratings are lower, the teacher needs to understand the reason and work towards improvement.

LEARN ABOUT: System Usability Scale

7. How much time do you spend every day on homework?

• <2 Hours
• >5 Hours

Homework is something that most students do not enjoy. If a student spends a significant time duration doing homework, there are higher chances that he/she dislikes attending the classes too. Homework often induces stress in students, which can lead to health scares, and as a class teacher, it is essential to ensure that the students are mentally secure and healthy. Authorities can ask this question so that they can analyze the answers to minimize or eliminate the stress of homework.

8. What are some achievements you’re proud of?

• Securing the 1st rank
• Participating in an inter-school debate competition
• Participating in a culture-exchange program
• Representing the school/university at a national level

Every student is unique. Their achievements will be different, and each of these achievements should be celebrated. It is practically impossible to celebrate them in class after a class test or an activity. Know from the students about what they think are their achievements and create a list. Teachers can reward all the students periodically to maintain student satisfaction and happiness.

9. Does your teacher encourage you to perform better?

• Yes, all the time
• Only sometimes
• No, not at all

Students need constant encouragement to push their boundaries so that they perform well academically as well in terms of extracurricular activities. Teachers or school management can ask this close-ended question to understand whether the students feel encouraged to perform better or not. By evaluating the answers to this question, the management can either prompt teachers to be more encouraging or train them to be more empathetic towards their class.

10. How would you evaluate the overall academic experience you had with this professor in our university program?

• Very Dissatisfied
• Not Satisfied
• Very Satisfied

Schools and colleges must evaluate the performance of teachers from time to time and understand if students face difficulties with the professor.

11. Please share your agreement with this statement: “My teacher has fair rules for the class and is extremely impartial.”

• Strongly Agree
• Strongly Disagree

Teachers are expected to be fair in their judgment towards every student. There can be instances where the students may not feel that their teacher is fair. The management should include the Likert scale question in their student perception survey to learn about a teacher’s classroom behavior.

12. Please share your agreement with this statement: “My teachers asks each one of us whether we have understood what she taught and helps us in case we have doubts.”

A classroom is where children learn the most, and a teacher is whom each turns to, in case of doubts and troubles. Ask this Likert Scale question to evaluate how good a teacher is at addressing and solving doubts.

13. Does your teacher appreciate the times when you work hard towards scoring well in a test or performing well in extracurricular activities?

• Yes, she/he always appreciates my hard work
• No, she/he never appreciates my hard work

The primary goal of a teacher should be the overall progress of a student. Learn from the students whether their teacher appreciates their hard work and reassures them to keep working hard or not.

14. Does your teacher guide you in setting personal targets and developing strategies to achieve that target

• Yes, she/he always guides me to set targets
• In most situations, she/he guides me to set targets
• She/he rarely guides me to set targets
• No, she/he never guides me to set targets

Children need to understand the importance of setting personal goals and striving to achieve them. Teachers play a critical role in teaching a habit of setting targets in school and working hard. Learn from the students whether they resonate with the teacher’s guiding method to set personal goals.

Learn more:  Sex Education Survey Questions + Sample Questionnaire Template & Travel Survey Questionnaire

15. After each test, does your teacher help you in understanding ways to improve your grades?

Marks/grades are a significant part of a student’s life at school. A teacher should help students understand where they go wrong while answering, how they can improve their performance after each test etc.

LEARN ABOUT:  Social Communication Questionnaire

16. Top 3 things that your teacher can improve – There are specific open-ended questions such as this one, leading to accurate feedback. Teachers or management can analyze and collect insights obtained for this question and start working towards improving their class performance.

Steps to conduct a student survey

Follow these steps to gather honest feedback from your students and keep them engaged throughout the student perception survey.

Step 1:   Decide the approach and tone of the student survey .

Every teacher has their style of communicating with the students. This internal communication evaluation pattern differs from teacher to teacher. Each teacher can design a student interest survey based on the type of bond they share with their class. The tone of the study will change with the type of information expected from this survey.

Learn more:  Depression Survey For Students

Step 2: Send out the student survey

Teachers can send out surveys via convenient mediums. The advantage of using online survey software is that teachers can send surveys via email . For high school and university teachers and professor evaluation , it is very convenient to conduct student perception surveys since the main task they have to do is send an email for the survey. 

Learn more:  School Cheating Survey Questions

Step 3: Analyze the collected data

After sending out the survey and receiving responses, teachers can analyze the opinions and feedbacks. What do most of their students have to say? Where do the students need help? How can they change their teaching methods to accommodate the less inclined students? What did most students appreciate? What made most students unhappy? – Answers to such questions can be analyzed using a student interest survey . With online survey software such as QuestionPro , teachers, professors, and management can analyze a central dashboard’s response.

Step 4: Take actions

After analyzing the collected information, teachers can contemplate the changes which can be implemented based on that information. You can obtain insights into details such as improvement in teaching methods, attention to weaker students, or fun activities on a specific day of the week.

How to create a free student survey in minutes?

Follow these steps to create simple student surveys from scratch:

1. Create a FREE account with QuestionPro

2. Give your survey a name and hit ‘Create Survey.’

3. Add an intro to introduce the topic of your survey or just start adding questions.

4. Choose from 25+ question types – all for free

You can also import a Word document or use any of our existing survey templates . A lot of features make QuestionPro stand out as a robust survey partner, between multiple customization options, and an intuitive layout, you can create multiple surveys that fit your many needs.

Example of a good survey for students

Here is a student survey example. This template is free to download.

USE THIS FREE TEMPLATE

Ask students consistent questions that help them capture attention, explore information and promote their knowledge. Being responsive is crucial. It is recommended to accept any answer so that, based on them, direct new questions that lead to the correct information. You should ask the necessary questions until you understand the topic.

• Advanced logic and workflows for more intelligent surveys
• Over 5000 universities & colleges and over 1 million+ students use QuestionPro
• Academic license supports multi-admin role environment

LEARN ABOUT: Behavioral Competency

Whether you need a simple survey tool or a collaborative research solution, with our Academic licenses for universities and educational institutions, you get access to all the best features used by our Enterprise research clients. Try it today!

LEARN MORE         SIGN UP FREE

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150+ Fun Questions to Ask Students of All Ages | Updated in 2023

Astrid Tran • 12 Jun 2023 • 8 min read

What are fun questions to ask students ? What are fun icebreaker questions to bond with students? There are many of you asking these questions to find a better way to grab students’ attention and increase students’ engagement in both classroom learning activities and other extracurricular activities.

If you find it hard to communicate with your students, you can read through these articles in a few minutes to find a better and more effective way to communicate with them.

Table of Contents

20 check in questions for students.

• 20 Fun Wacky Icebreaker Fun questions to ask students
• 20 Fun Get-to-know Questions to Ask Students
• 20 Virtual Learning related questions for students
• 15 Fun Questions to Ask Students about School Experience

20 Fun Icebreaker Questions for High School Students

20 fun questions to ask middle school students, 15 fun questions to ask your principal.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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More funs in your icebreaker session.

Instead of a boring orientation, let's start a fun quiz to engage with your mates. Sign up to take free quiz from AhaSlides template library!

Check out a few fun daily check in questions for students!

1. What makes you smile today?

2. Which emoji can describe your mood right now?

3. Do you go to bed late yesterday?

4. Do you read a book before bedtime?

5. Which song can describe your mood right now?

6. Do you do exercises in the morning?

7. Do you want to give your friend a hug?

8. What weird topic would you most like to research?

9. Which joke would you like to tell?

10. Do you help your parents by doing housework?

11. Pick a superpower you want most.

12. What do you use your superpowers for?

13. Pick a nemesis

14. Can you share a good action you did or others did in the past?

15. Which present you wanted to have?

16. What do you want to do now to make up for yesterday mistake?

17. Do you want to become famous?

18. Do you want to write a book?

19. What is the place where you feel most yourself?

20. What is on your bucket list and why?

Wacky Icebreaker – 20 Fun Questions to Ask students

Which one do you prefer?

21. Harry Potter or the Twilight light Saga?

22. Cat or dog?

23. Monday or Friday?

24. Morning bird or Night owl?

25. Falcon or Cheetah

26. Indoor activities or outdoor ones?

27. Online learning or in-person learning?

28. Drawing or playing an instrument?

29. Playing a sport or reading a book

30. Superhero or villain?

31. Speak out or write out?

32. Chocolate or vanilla?

33. Listen to music while you work or rather work in silence?

34. Work alone or work in a group?

35. Instagram or Facebook?

36. Youtube or TikTok?

37. iPhone or Samsung?

38. Notebook or Ipad?

39. Go to the beach or hiking?

40. Tent camping or hotel stay?

Get-to-know – 20 Fun Questions to Ask Students

41. Do you know any other languages?

42. What is your favourite family tradition?

43. Do you like to go to KTV, and which song will you pick first?

44. Which kind of music do you like?

45. What is your favourite pet and why?

46. What is the most challenging part of school for you?

47. What is the best school assignment you’ve ever had?

48. What is the most challenging assignment you’ve ever had?

49. Do you like field trips?

50. Are you tech-savvy?

51. Are you addicted to social networks?

52. Are you obsessed with how others judge you online?

53. What is your favourite book?

54. Do you like reading printed newspapers or online newspapers?

55. Do you like cultural exchange trips?

56. Which is your dream graduate trip?

57. What do you do in the future?

58. How long do you spend playing games on average?

59. What do you do at the weekend?

60. What is your favorite quote and why?

Tips: Questions to ask students to get to know them

20 Virtual Learning related – Fun Questions for Students

61. What is your favourite used emoji?

62. Do you encounter complex problems during online learning?

63. Do you want to turn on or turn off the camera during virtual learning?

64. What is your most used writing assistant tool?

65. How important is face-to-face communication for you while learning remotely?

66. Do you like online quizzes?

67. Do you think online exams may bring unfair?

68. How much do you know about AI?

69. What is your favourite subject in distance learning?

70. Do you think virtual learning should replace traditional classrooms forever?

71. What is the best part of virtual learning?

72. What are the drawbacks of virtual learning?

73. What’s your secret to preparing for a quiz or test?

74. What bothers you while you are learning remotely?

75. Which subject doesn’t suitable to learn online?

76. Do you want to buy an online course?

77. To what extent do online courses help improve your knowledge?

78. Do you have an online or remote job?

79. What is your favourite Zoom background?

80. Which online meeting platform you like to recommend?

Tips: How to Keep Kids Engaged in Class?

15 Fun Questions to Ask Students About School Experience

81. How often do you talk to your classmates?

82. How eager are you to participate in your classes?

83. What are the most engaging activities that happen in this class?

84. What is the most straightforward subject in school?

85. Do you like off-campus activities/

86. What is your plan for winter vacation and summer vacation?

87. If you didn’t finish your homework, what’s most likely the reason?

88. What’s one thing from primary school you wish they still did in high school?

89. What is one thing your teacher can do to get to know you better?

90. Do you want to help your friend they are in a bad situation?

91. Do you want to learn more than two languages in school?

92. Have you ever used the assignment assistant platform?

93. What advice would you give someone about the grade you just finished?

94. What is the most practical subject that you want to learn that school doesn’t have?

95. What country and why do you want to study abroad?

• If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
• What is your favourite hobby or activity outside of school?
• If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?
• What is your favourite movie or TV show, and why do you like it?
• If you were stranded on a desert island, what three things would you want to have with you?
• What is your favourite type of music, and do you play any instruments?
• If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would it be, and what would you ask them?
• What is one thing you’re good at or proud of?
• If you could live in a different period, which one would you choose and why?
• What is the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done or would like to do?
• If you could meet any celebrity or famous person, who would it be and why?
• What is your favourite book or author, and why do you enjoy reading?
• If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose and why?
• What is your dream job or career, and why does it appeal to you?
• If you could have a magical ability, such as talking to animals or teleportation, which would you choose and why?
• What is your favourite food or cuisine?
• If you could learn any new skill or talent instantly, what would you choose and why?
• What is one interesting or unique fact about yourself that most people don’t know?
• If you could invent something, what would it be, and how would it improve people’s lives?
• What is one goal or aspiration you have for the future?

Here are some fun questions you can ask middle school students:

• If you could have any superpower, what would it be and how would you use it?
• What is your favorite subject in school and why?
• If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
• If you could be any animal for a day, which animal would you choose and why?
• What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you at school?
• If you could trade places with a fictional character for a day, who would it be and why?
• What is your favorite thing to do during your free time or on weekends?
• If you could have any talent or skill instantly, what would you choose?
• What is the best field trip you’ve ever been on and why did you enjoy it?
• If you could visit any country in the world, where would you go and what would you do there?
• If you could create your own holiday, what would it be called and how would you celebrate it?
• What is your favorite book or series, and why do you like it?
• If you could have a robot that could do any task for you, what would you want it to do?
• What is the most interesting or unusual thing you’ve learned recently?
• If you could have a famous person come to your school for a day, who would you choose and why?
• What is your favorite sport or physical activity, and why do you enjoy it?
• If you could invent a new flavor of ice cream, what would it be and what ingredients would it have?
• What features or changes would you include if you could design your dream school?
• What is the most challenging thing you’ve faced at school and how did you overcome it?
• If you could converse with any historical figure, who would it be and what would you ask them?

Here are some fun questions you could ask your principal:

• What career would you have chosen if you weren’t a principal?
• What is the most memorable or funny moment you’ve experienced as a principal?
• If you could return to your high school days, what advice would you give your teenage self?
• Have you ever had a funny or embarrassing moment during a school assembly or event?
• If you could trade places with a student for a day, which grade would you choose and why?
• What is the most unusual or exciting punishment you’ve had to give a student?
• What was your favorite subject or class in high school, and why?
• If you could create a school-wide theme day, what would it be, and how would everyone participate?
• What is the funniest excuse a student has given you for not completing their homework?
• If you could organize and participate in a talent show, what talent or act would you showcase?
• What is the best prank a student has ever pulled on you or another staff member?
• If you could have a “Principal for a Day” event, where students could take on your role, what would be their main responsibilities?
• What is the most exciting or unique hidden talent you have?
• If you could choose any fictional character as your assistant principal, who would you pick and why?
• If you had a time machine and could visit any point in history to witness a school-related event, which one would you choose?

Be Inspired with AhaSlides | Fun Questions to Ask Students

Fun Questions to Ask Students? Communication is the best key to understanding your students, whether is face-to-face or remote class. How to ask students appropriately need a bit of effort. However, you can start with fun, wacky questions to make them feel less pressured to answer and free to share their deepest thoughts.

Now that you have nearly 100 helpful, fun questions to ask students, it is high time to make your classroom lessons and online classes become more attractive and practical. AhaSlides can help teachers to solve their problems most affordably and quickly.

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Learn how to make free online and live quizzes and games to best engage your students in a classroom with AhaSlides, one of the best educator tools.

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45 Student Survey Questions for Useful Feedback

Student surveys are more important today than they’ve ever been, especially as teacher’s work to discover how the last few years of less-than-ideal learning has influenced their students.

Taking the time to check-in and ask students what they need, what they’re struggling with, and what issues they have in class can be eye opening. More importantly, the information can help teachers adjust how they teach and relate to students, helping those students perform better.

While students should always be the primary reason for administering surveys, these tools are also beneficial for teachers and staff. Student surveys are powerful data gatherers , allowing administration the data they need to see trends and (hopefully) student improvement.

We’ve put together a list of 45 student survey questions you can use in your classroom to get useful, actionable feedback.

General Questions

These general questions are ideal to ask at the beginning of the year or regularly at the beginning of class. Using surveys consistently throughout the year gets students used to the format and more comfortable answering questions honestly.

1. How much time do you spend on homework every night?

2. What extracurricular activities are you involved with at school or outside of school?

3. On a scale from 1-10, how supportive do you find your teacher?

4. On a scale from 1-10, how supportive do you find your classmates?

5. Have you ever been in trouble at school? Briefly describe your experience.

6. Does anyone help you with your homework at home? If so, what is their relation to you?

7. What’s the easiest way for you to respond in class? Raising your hand? Shouting out an answer? Using a device to answer anonymously?

8. What is one thing you want your teacher to know about you?

9. What motivates you to learn?

10. What would motivate you to spend more time studying?

End of Lesson/End of Year Overview Questions

This set of questions is all about checking in with students to gauge their understanding of the past lesson or the year in general. Using these answers, teachers can adjust their lessons or teaching methods to best help their students.

11. Rank this year’s/weeks lessons from easiest to hardest.

12. How did you find this month/week’s course load?

13. What things would increase your interest in the class?

14. Which classroom activities helped you learn the most?

15. What’s one thing you’re most proud of accomplishing this year?

16. What one thing would you improve about this class?

17. What would you like to learn next?

18. If you could give advice to students coming into this class next year, what would you tell them?

19. Our next topic is ________. How much do you know about that topic?

Confirming Understanding Questions

The questions in this section are ideal for using at the end of the day or a specific lesson. Teachers can use the answers to decide whether or not to spend more time on a section or to reassess how well students are working together.

20. How well did you understand today’s lessons?

21. What one area do you think needs more explanation?

22. How do you feel what you learned today could be applied in the real world?

23. What’s the best way you think you could practice what we learned in class today?

24. What confused you today?

25. How did you contribute in class today?

26. What was your favorite thing you learned in class today?

27. What are you most proud of accomplishing today?

28. Did any other student help you learn today?

29. Did you work with others today? How did it make you feel?

Well-Being Questions

Mental and emotional health are more important today than they have ever been, especially for students. Taking a break from schoolwork to check how students are feeling mentally can give teachers understanding of certain behaviors or attitudes at any given time during the school day.

30. How are you feeling today?

31. Did you get enough rest last night?

32. Do you feel like you can ask for help when needed?

33. Do you feel like your voice is heard in this classroom?

34. How do you feel about your overall understanding of class work?

35. What would help you feel in a better mood in this class?

36. What emotion are you feeling the most today?

37. What was the best part of your week?

38. What was the worst part of your week?

39. How did you feel included in class today?

40. What’s one thing I can do to make your days easier?

Just for Fun Questions

Surveys don’t have to just be about assessing the serious things in the classroom. Sometimes, taking a break to ask fun questions helps students relax and gets them ready to continue with the day.

41. Cats or dogs?

42. Are hotdogs sandwiches or tacos?

43. What’s your favorite animal?

44. What’s your favorite meal?

45. If you could have any super power, what would it be?

Slides with Friends Surveys

Slides with Friends has spent months working with teachers to figure out their needs in the classroom, including how the quickest and easiest way to run a student survey . Use one of our pre-made slide decks to copy-paste any of the questions above into an easy-to-run presentation.

Create a free account and use our Classroom Quiz template to get started immediately.

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Free Websites for Question-and-Answer Homework Help Online

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• Homework Tips
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• M.A., Education, Claremont Graduate University
• B.A., English, Brigham Young University

Online classes are convenient, but they usually don’t offer the support of a traditional university. If you find yourself wishing you had a tutor to guide you through a difficult math problem or essay question, free websites offer you the ability to ask questions and get answers online. 

Yahoo! Answers

Yahoo! Answers lets users ask questions and receive answers from fellow users. Topics include arts and the humanities, science, and mathematics, and education and reference. Users who provide answers receive points based on their responses. Almost all questions receive a quick answer. Many responders seem to be young, so be prepared for quips along with helpful responses. 

Hippo Campus

HippoCampus delivers videos, animations, and simulations on general education subjects to middle-school and high-school teachers. Students can use the site for homework and exam preparation. Users don't need to register or log in. HippoCampus is powered by The NROC Project, a nonprofit, member-driven group focused on new models of digital content development, distribution, and use.

Answerology

Answerology users can answer each other's questions and form “Question Groups” that track the questions on a homework topic. Questions and answers tend to be more social than academic but would be useful in essays. 

Ask a Librarian

This Library of Congress service lets students ask questions and receive emailed responses from librarians. The site asks users to avoid sending homework questions, though it can be used for research issues. Answers are typically sent within five business days. Some topics offer online chat. A virtual reference shelf also is provided.

Free Math Help

This site, launched in 2002, typically sees more than a million visitors a month during the school year. Everything on the site is free , supported by advertising, though some links take you to fee-based sites.

Ask Philosophers

Hosted by the University of Amherst , this site allows users to ask philosophical questions and receive responses from philosophers. Answers are posted within a few days. The website warns submissions won't be posted if they're unintelligible, vague, clearly scientific, concern a personal problem, or have other issues. You can search to see if your question has already been answered.

Ask a Linguist​

Questions are answered on the website by linguistics students and faculty at Indiana University's Linguistics Department . Responses focus on language and language analysis regarding issues with substantial linguistic content or content of wide interest within the discipline.

Ask a Geologist

Email questions about earth sciences to this site, and United States Geological Survey scientists will respond if your homework question is among the 88 percent answered. Include the word "Question" in the subject line. USGS scientists have responded since 1994 but won't answer test questions, write reports, answer questions with direct financial impacts, recommend products or companies, or identify rocks from photos. 

Go Ask Alice!

Questions to the site, hosted by Columbia University’s health department , are answered by health care professionals, information and research specialists, and writers. Team members have advanced degrees in fields such as public health, health education, medicine, and counseling. The site came online in 1994; 20 years later, more than 4 million people were visiting monthly.

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8 Homework Questions That Stumped Parents

Senior Reporter, HuffPost Life

Homework is not just the bane of many students’ lives. It can also lead to major frustration for their parents .

Sometimes a homework question comes along that is so confusing, it stumps kids and parents alike. And many of those frustrated adults take to social media to share their bewilderment .

We’ve rounded up eight such problems that have made waves online over the years ― or came to us directly from the HuffPost Parents community.

The Kindergarten Worksheet

In 2017, New York mom Royce Winnick posted a photo of her 5-year-old daughter’s take-home worksheet on Facebook and asked if anyone could figure out the answer to the last question. The worksheet focused on the letter T and instructed students to “tap out the word in the picture and write out the sounds you hear.”

While the first answers were simply “tub,” “ten” and “top,” the last one showed a drawing of rabbits with no clear T-word description. “The real answer was ‘vet’ which makes no sense!” Winnick told HuffPost at the time.

The Other Kindergarten Worksheet

Winnick also shared another worksheet with HuffPost that “also had ridiculous answers.”

“The answers to the two bottoms ones are kin and Ken!” she said. “Again, how is a 5-year-old supposed to know that?”

The Third Grade Math Problem

This 3rd grade math problem... from funny

In 2017, a mom named Dusty Sappington posted a photo showing a section of her 8-year-old daughter Izzy’s math homework on Reddit . The problem stated, “Janell had 15 marbles. She lost some of them. How many does Janell have now?”

“To be honest, I’m unsure if it was printed in error or was a question to test her knowledge of less than and greater than, which she has touched on in the past,” Sappington told HuffPost at the time. “Being the mother of a third-grader and a fifth-grader, I have seen a lot of homework over the years that has our family laughing at the absurdities, scratching our heads and relying too much on Google.”

The Uncertain Family Tree

In March, we asked members of the HuffPost Parents Facebook community if they had come across homework questions that stumped them. One user, Malina Mchls, shared a confusing question from her niece’s homework:

“I am German and live in England. I was helping my niece with her German homework and she had to do a family tree. At the end it asked for a relation to a previously unknown family member. It went something like Peter is Mary’s brother and Steven is Mary’s husband, what is Peter to John? Like who TF is John?”

The First Grade Math Problem

In 2017, the Holderness family shared a problem from son Penn Charles’ first grade homework on Facebook . The caption included the hashtag #mybrainhurts.

“FYI, this was the final page on a 7 page sheet, the previous 6 pages were a much more normal level for a first grader. I don’t think the teacher expects everyone to get this, I think it was meant to be a problem that would challenge the children, so for that reason I think it’s great that our school included it!” dad Penn Holderness noted in a comment.

The First Grade Number Pattern

Apparently, this math question appeared in an exam for Grade Ones in Singapore. Lets see who can solve it. NdooSTEM ka Jonso @ProfJNMoyo 😅😅 pic.twitter.com/uhgQAzaHei — mmatigari (@matigary) May 17, 2017

While this one was a bonus question on a test, it still stumped parents. In 2017, Twitter user mmatigari shared a math question that allegedly appeared on an exam for first graders in Singapore .

The question revolved around a number pattern called a petite circle sum , which most adults appeared to agree seemed a little too difficult for children so young.

The Fifth Grade Math Question

Can you solve this maths question which has left pupils and parents scratching their heads? https://t.co/jmt1pbInNH — Manchester News MEN (@MENnewsdesk) June 7, 2016

In 2016, a U.K. father took to Facebook to bemoan his fifth grade son’s math homework . “Calculate the perimeter of these composite rectilinear shapes,” one problem commanded.

When the Manchester Evening News tweeted the question, many grown-ups expressed their confusion, while others explained how they arrived at the answer.

The Symphony Conundrum

That's not how this works. That's not how any of this works. pic.twitter.com/EdSSJInqEp — Doug Mataconis (@dmataconis) October 9, 2017

In 2017, a “trick question” from a U.K. math teacher had a viral moment on Twitter. The question asks: “An orchestra of 120 players takes 40 minutes to play Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. How long would it take for 60 players to play the symphony?”

Twitter user Doug Mataconis shared the teacher’s question along with the caption, “That’s not how this works. That’s not how any of this works.” Many responses suggested equal bewilderment, but the teacher who wrote the problem, Claire Longmoor, clarified that it was a “trick question just to keep the kids on their toes.” Still, as others pointed out, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is actually closer to 70 minutes than 40.

Before You Go

Caroline Bologna

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