"What does it mean to read? What does it mean to think? What does it mean to solve problems? What should you be doing in your head when you translate the Spanish? In sum, what is meant to be going on inside that black box called the mind and what is actually going on in their minds? These are our Essential Questions as teachers. It is the continual addressing of these questions that moves us from the ranks of the naïve and ok teachers to skilled professionals. We move from being “teachers” to coaches of learning."
If one goal of essential questions is to get our students to think a question we must ask is how do we go about teaching them do this. This post by Grant Wiggins explores ways to help students learn the necessary skills. Examples are provided and he also shares a book, "When Kids Can’t Read What Teachers Can Do" that provides resources.