The combination of educational and cognitive research into the power of questioning combined with practical tools and suggested strategies provide instructors with a powerful tool to help plan and execute dynamic learning episodes in which the instructor and the student team up to explore, question, and discuss newly found understandings and insights into this often-confusing world in which we live.

Sheelagh Mcgurn, Master of Arts in Education

The Power of Questions is a must-read for educators and learners alike. Bill Truesdale and Vinni M. Hall masterfully illuminate how the simple act of asking the right questions can transform the educational experience. This book is a powerful tool for fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and lifelong learning. It provides actionable strategies that will inspire educators to elevate their teaching and empower students to take charge of their own learning journey. I highly recommend this insightful and practical guide for anyone committed to making a meaningful impact in education

Jairek Robbins, performance coach and author

Engaging students is our main task as educators. Getting solid questions asking ideas and strategies from Vinni and Bill’s Workbook is a great tool for professional development sessions. Our students need to question more, participate more and take a more active role in their learning by questioning what they learn. Using questions to get students’ thinking about what is being taught is not enough. Teaching students to question what is taught offers more insight on what I must teach and reteach. This book is all about the art of questioning for both teachers and students. Getting our students to ask questions builds their language and self-advocacy skills.

Jerlyn Maloy, former principal and administrator, Chicago Public Schools

Dr. Vinni Hall started at our university by having her students ask her two questions. She said she learned a lot about them through these questions. Their evaluations were always about how she made them question why they were studying and what specifically did they plan to get out of the course. Most said their thinking altered their understanding of the course objectives and they were able to apply what they learned as teachers.

Florah Lusenso, chairperson of education, Chicago State University

The Power of Questions: How They Can Change and Influence Instructional Practices overall concept lays a solid foundation by drawing a compelling parallel between the architectural concept of instructional efficacy and the pivotal role of questioning in education. Some of the strengths I found in the reading are as follows: using the architectural metaphor of a quoin (cornerstone) to illustrate the foundational role of questioning in education is clever. It provides an understanding of pedagogy throughout the book. It offers strategies for educators to enhance student engagement through questioning. Several statements piqued my interest or resonated with me, one being: “It seems now that the purpose of schooling is to do well on tests.” Unfortunately, this has become the case. Teachers cannot be as creative as before because they must teach to the test. Another statement that stuck with me was in Chapter V, where the authors wrote, “There is nothing new under the sun,” and then offered a compelling list of resources and techniques to improve instructions. None were new, yet worth listing and served as a reminder of best practices. As a visual learner, I especially took notice of the tables and chants. The reading highlighted the importance of developing skills beyond formal education, a significant and timely theme. Including quotes from education experts supported the authors’ argument. Overall, the chapters of this book speak to the importance of instructional techniques, resources, and pedagogy that make for effective and efficient teaching.

Oriana Wilson, bilingual PK-12 educational leader

The Power of Questions: How They Can Change and Influence Instructional Practices is a practical guide to assist all teachers in their development to influence instructional practices. Every teacher longs to be able to impact their students with deeper understanding and cognitive development. The Power of Questions attempts to provide a practical guide to improving questions both by teacher and students. The strategies provided can improve our interactions with students and developing a student-centered classroom. It does this by providing examples and easy to follow strategies.

Ernesto Matias, educational leader and mentor