Introduction to the Question Formulation Technique QFT Strengthening

Introduction to the Question Formulation Technique (QFT) Strengthening Parents’ Skills to Ask the Right Questions

Overview • Housekeeping • About the Right Question School-Family Partnership Strategy • An experience in the Question Formulation Technique (QFT) • Unpacking the QFT • Integrating the QFT • Closing Remarks & Assignments • Q & A rightquestion. org

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An Interactive Webinar Time: rightquestion. org Time’s up! 5 s

Let’s see who’s here! Please share in the chat box: • Your name • The region you are from Make sure you are sending the message to everyone! rightquestion. org

After the Webinar • Fill out • Download free • evaluation resources https: //goo. gl/ ww. ZA 4 Q Complete • assignments to obtain certificate of participation Look out for email announcements and stay in touch! rightquestion. org

Before we start… Please select three most common things you do when working with parents: 1. Offer advice 2. Provide information 3. Have them prepare their own questions 4. Give them tips for supporting their children’s education 5. Encourage them to ask questions 6. Teach them parenting and other skills 7. Give them suggestions on how to partner with you 8. Provide a process so they can focus on key decisions 9. Other? (Please list) Share the number of your three choices in the chat box. Time: Time’s up! rightquestion. org 30 s

Honoring the original source: Parents in Lawrence, Massachusetts, 1990 “We don’t go to the school because we don’t even know what to ask. ” rightquestion. org

Components of the Strategy The strategy has three components that can be used separately or as a unit. üThe Question Formulation Technique (QFT) üThe Support, Monitor, and Advocate Model üThe Framework for Accountable Decision-Making rightquestion. org

Outcomes • Parents have foundational skills they can use to partner and advocate more effectively • Parents and school staff are resources for each other on behalf of children • Educators and school staff have tools and a strategy to engage and preparents to partner more effectively rightquestion. org

An integrated strategy A Strategy, NOT a program Complementary to existing programs rightquestion. org

An Experience in the Question Formulation Technique (QFT) rightquestion. org

Rules for Producing Questions 1. ASK AS MANY QUESTIONS AS YOU CAN 2. DO NOT STOP TO ANSWER, JUDGE OR DISCUSS 3. WRITE DOWN EVERY QUESTION EXACTLY AS STATED 4. CHANGE ANY STATEMENTS INTO QUESTIONS What might be difficult about following these rules? rightquestion. org Time: Time’s up! 30 s

Question Focus (QFocus) Some parents are not asking questions. rightquestion. org

: s u c QFo Some parents are not asking questions. • Follow the Rules • Ask as many questions as you can. • Do not stop to answer, judge, or discuss. • Write down every question exactly as it comes to mind • Change any statements into questions. • Number the Questions rightquestion. org Time: Time’s up! 3 min

Improving questions: Identify closed and open-ended questions Definitions: • Closed-ended questions can be answered with a “yes” or “no” or with a one-word answer. • Open-ended questions require more explanation. Identify your questions as closed-ended or open-ended by marking them with a “C” or an “O. ” rightquestion. org Time: Time’s up! 1 min

Advantages & Disadvantages Closed-ended questions Advantages rightquestion. org Time: Time’s up! 30 s

Advantages & Disadvantages Closed-ended questions Disadvantages rightquestion. org Time: Time’s up! 30 s

Advantages & Disadvantages Open-ended questions Advantages rightquestion. org Time: Time’s up! 30 s

Advantages & Disadvantages Open-ended questions Disadvantages rightquestion. org Time: Time’s up! 30 s

Work with Closed and Open-Ended Questions • Change one closed-ended question so it becomes openended. Closed Open • Change one open-ended question so it becomes closedended. Closed Open Add the new questions to the bottom of your list of questions. rightquestion. org Time: Time’s up! 1. 5 min

Prioritizing Questions Review your list of questions • Choose three questions you consider most important. • Keep in mind your QFocus: Some parents are not asking questions. After prioritizing consider… • Why did you choose three questions? • Where are your priority questions in the sequence of your entire list of questions? rightquestion. org Time: Time’s up! 1. 5 min

Action Plan Next Steps: • What information do you need to get? • What are specific things you will do to get the information? rightquestion. org Time: Time’s up! 1. 5 min

Share Your Work Please share: 1. Your three priority questions 2. Your rationale for selecting those three 3. Number of your priority questions in your sequence 4. Your action plan rightquestion. org Time: Time’s up! 2. 5 min

Reflection: • What did you learn? Time: Time’s up! 1 min • How can you use it? Time: rightquestion. org

Parent Reflections • Ask the right questions to be sure I understand the standards expected of my child • Communicate better with my child’s teachers • Have a plan of action when it comes to my child’s education • Monitor my child’s education more closely and ask questions to obtain answers rightquestion. org

The Question Formulation Technique (QFT) Let’s peek inside the black box rightquestion. org

The QFT, on one slide… 1) Question Focus 2) Produce Your Questions üFollow the rules üNumber your questions 3) Improve Your Questions 1. Ask as many questions as you can 2. Do not stop to discuss, judge or answer 3. Record exactly as stated 4. Change statements into questions üCategorize questions as closed or open-ended üChange questions from one type to another 4) Prioritize Your Questions 5) Share & Discuss Next Steps 6) Reflect Closed-Ended: Answered with “yes, ” “no” or one word Open-Ended: Require rightquestion. org longer explanation

Three Thinking Abilities in One Process CONVERGENT THINKING DIVERGENT THINKING METACOGNITIVE THINKING rightquestion. org

Integration Opportunities… rightquestion. org

Parent Engagement Activities rightquestion. org

An Integration Example Parent Teacher Conference A teacher helps a mother generate questions to address an issue Question Focus: Sam seems to be having trouble doing his homework. rightquestion. org

An Integration Example (Continued) 1. Is he behaving? 2. Is he causing problems? 3. Is he doing his homework? 4. What do you mean by “trouble”? 5. How do you know he’s having trouble? 6. When did this start? 7. Did he do his homework before? 8. Is he getting punished for not doing his homework? 9. What’s going to happen to him? 10. Why do you think he’s having trouble? X 11. What should I do to make sure he does his homework? X 12. What happens when he doesn’t do his homework? 13. Will he be held back? X rightquestion. org

Developing Partnerships rightquestion. org

Facilitation rightquestion. org

Tips for Question Focus (QFocus) Design • It should not be a question. “What questions do you have about your child’s school environment? ” V. “Your child’s school environment” V. “Sam seems to be having trouble doing his homework. ” • The simpler the better. “Sam seems to be having trouble focusing in class and doing his homework. I wonder if there is anything going on at home” • One word can make a huge difference. “Your child will be held back in the same grade for another year. ” V. “Your child might be held back in the same grade for another year” rightquestion. org

Facilitation Tips • Introduce the process as quickly as possible • Do not explain the question focus • Do not stop to answer the questions as they are being produced • Make sure to leave time for reflection rightquestion. org

Facilitation Example rightquestion. org

A Few Closing Words rightquestion. org

See Chapter 6 on Septima Clark in Freedom Road: Adult Education of African Americans (Peterson, 1996). Democracy “We need to be taught to study rather than to believe, to rightquestion. org inquire rather than to affirm. ” - Septima Clark

Assignment • Complete evaluation • https: //goo. gl/forms/AVy. G 5 Qu. FXOZXhh. EU 2 • Watch videos • Using the QFT with Individual Parents • Watch the video Using the QFT with Groups of Parents • Jot down your observations and reflections and submit to obtain certificate of participation. • Complete Google Form, OR • Type up your answers and send to siyi. chu@rightquestion. org

Certificate rightquestion. org

Upcoming Webinars Webinar Series: Building Stronger School-Family Partnerships Speakers: Luz Santana & Siyi Chu • Part 2 - The Support, Monitor & Advocate Model: Three Key Roles Parents Can Play in Their Children's Education. • Tues. March 12, 2019, 12: 00 – 1: 00 PM, CST ØRegister now! • Part 3 - The Framework for Accountable Decision Making: Strengthening Parents Skills to Participate in Decisions. • Tues. April 16, 2019, 12: 00 – 1: 00 PM, CST ØRegister now! Learn more: https: //www. texasparent. org/webinar rightquestion. org

Thank you. Now, some time for your questions. We are eager to connect with you and explore how we can support your work: Siyi. Chu@rightquestion. org Luz@rightquestion. org Register to access free resources at: www. rightquestion. org