FQW | Facts, Questions, Wonderings
FQW, or the “Facts, Questions and Wondering” technique, is a method to capture students’ critical thinking when responding to a text. This literacy strategy can be adapted to any classroom environment where students are engaging with a text to:
showcase critical thinking and initial thinking/responses in an equitable manner
capture data for assessment as/for learning proposes
consolidate key concepts and prompt further discussion
I often use this activity during the first read through of a script. I have facilitated the activity where students consider:
the facts, questions and wonderings that they have concerning the whole play
the individual perspective of a specific character, developing the facts/questions/wonderings from the character’s point of view
Sample Lesson Plan Incorporation of FQW:
introduce the concept of gathering observations during a read through of a text to capture critical thinking
define fact (i.e. things we know from the text/Juliet is a Capulet),questions (i.e. specific things that arise from the text/What is the root of conflict in Romeo and Juliet’s feuding families?) and wonderings (i.e. any other observations that do not fit into the previous two categories/I wonder why the conflict has lasted so long…).
invite the students to use a method of collecting facts/questions/wonderings (e.g. in their journal, on a handout, using a class Padlet)
start the reading of the text, pausing for students to capture their observations using their given method
invite the students to share their fact/questions/wonderings in small group and large group settings using instructional strategies such as think-pair-share
compare and contrast similarities and discuss the observations from the text
Things To Consider:
try giving your students a minimum number of facts/questions/wondering so everyone can be successful in the activity (e.g. minimum of five observations from each category per class)
encourage safety in sharing observations through partner/small group discussion before launching into a full group discussion
make sure to pause at appropriate moments to allow all students to articulate their thinking
encourage alternative ways of documenting observations, including using images, drawing, and voice recording responses
Extensions of the FQW Technique:
post the facts/questions/wonderings on a bulletin board and/or Padlet and have the students add onto their observations and/or answer their questions
develop two to three essential questions for inquiry based on the students’ initial responses
co-construct success criteria for respectfully and professionally participating in all aspects of the activity
Handouts and Resources:
