Melanie, I teach first grade too .... One of the easiest ways to generate questions is to just say I wonder ....there is even a children's book by that name that does an excellent job of modeling that very statement..... Do not disregard the need for continued modeling and then gradual release..... If you use Debbie Miller's anchor charts then it is easier to go through the strands of questioning.... first question words as you mentioned based in authentic wondering.... perhaps now is the time to do research writing in writing workshop as you used mentor texts in guided reading..... then conventions of nonfiction that help navigate a student to find answers in the text... then the type of answers (right there in the text, out of your background knowledge, working with the author to make inferences, and on to other research resources...) and finally choosing one burning question (one that is thick enough to support many answers) and form book clubs to hone in on all ideas related to the question....... I love questioning because it segues into inferencing, determing importance, and book clubs beautifully. After the research, kids can write a topic report or a group summary of ideas and all then you are working on synthesizing in the way that you present your information. My only other suggestion is to keep the questioning based in the life of the child first then move on to mentor texts..... It has been my experience that kids in first grade are naturally insatiable curiosity seekers!
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