Receptive language module 2: Understanding different types of questions

This webinar explores different types of questions. It’s based on Blank’s Levels of Questioning Framework (Blank, Rose & Berlin, 1978). The aim is to adapt the curriculum to support students with language difficulties and disorders, ensuring their inclusion.  It can help provide support for students in all the key stages. 

The webinar is divided into 6 parts. Each part is approximately 10 minutes each – it’s best if you watch each part in order.

Part 1 – Introduction to questions

This first video looks at the experiences of students with language difficulties and language disorder. You will learn about different types of questions to show that not all questions are the same.

While watching part 1 of the webinar you’ll be asked to answer a few quick and easy questions. You may wish to pause the video to answer them.

Part 2: The 4 levels of Blank’s questions

Part 2 introduces the different levels of questions within Blank’s framework. Blank’s Levels of Questioning is a questioning framework developed by Marion Blank, a renowned psychologist. There are four levels of questioning which move from simple, concrete questions to more difficult, abstract questions.

While watching this video you’ll be asked to pause it so you can answer a short quiz to help consolidate your learning.

Part 3 – What Blank’s level do I start with?: Assessment and getting started with therapy

This video explains how to determine the appropriate question level for therapy and introduces ready-made resources to help support your student in understanding different question types.

Part 4 – Generalising Blank’s questions to the curriculum

This video explores how to move beyond ready-made resources and how Blank’s questions can be integrated into the curriculum and used at home as well as at school.  It also explores a range of strategies you can use to support your student’s understanding.

Please download the handouts below which include the portable Blank’s key ring and Blank’s bookmark to help you integrate Blank’s questions no matter where you are!

• Receptive language level 2 – part 4 handout a
• Receptive language level 2 – part 4 handout b

Part 5 – using Blank’s to support students with behavioural and emotional distress

This video examines how the language you use can help students understand and communicate when they are experiencing distress.

It is essential, to first consider what the student is trying to communicate when they’re distressed – for example, any sensory difficulties, physical distress, psychological distress or trauma and to ensure that you seek appropriate support from relevant professionals.

Part 6 – Target setting and planning

In this video you’ll get the chance to practise integrating Blank’s questions from all levels into some simple activities. It also focuses on target-setting and planning next steps in terms of which level of questions to target, what kind of resources you might want to use and how to integrate questions into the curriculum.

While watching Part 6 of the webinar you will be asked to pause the webinar to answer a quick, end of webinar quiz and also to practice the art of making up your own questions alongside some example picture scenarios.

Finally …

Please remember to keep practising your skills after completing this webinar using Blank’s keyring and bookmark. This will help you build your confidence and enable your students to benefit! Also, please revisit this webinar whenever you’d like to refresh your skills and knowledge and recommend it to new colleagues and friends to support their understanding.