Ask Three Before Me

Purpose
Routine questions like “Where do we write our name?” and “What’s the date?” usually do not need a response directly from the teacher. The Ask Three Before Me strategy frees you to answer those questions that clearly require teacher input and to assist students in genuine need. It also helps students and teams take more responsibility for their own learning by reinforcing the idea that they can depend on someone other than
the teacher for help.

Breaking It Down
■ Before the students begin any activity, make it clear that if they have questions, they need to ask three other people (teammates or students nearby) before coming to you.
■ Firmly enforce the rule. Whenever a student asks you a question, your response should be, “Did you ask three before me?” If they have not
consulted others, defer the question first to teammates or nearby students.
■ If the student still has not received a satisfactory answer
after asking three people for help, you should then offer assistance.

Fine-Tuning the Technique
■ Consistency is key, especially early in the year. If you fi nd that the strategy is not taking hold, make a conscious effort to respond to the student’s questions by asking, “Have you asked three before me?” Over time, this repetition will set and reinforce the standard.
■ Initially, you might want to post the rule on the board as a reminder for
the students.
■ Another way to establish Ask Three Before Me in your
classroom is to make it a weekly team cooperation goal
and to award team cooperation points whenever you notice
teams using the strategy.
■ The students should consult those closest to them, not
their friends across the room. If volume is a problem, work
with the students on appropriate voice levels by practicing
indoor voices or six-inch voices instead of outdoor voices,
for example.
■ As the students gain experience working together, you can
extend the strategy to higher-order thinking questions as
well. The more you encourage the students to consult their
classmates first, the more you reinforce effective teamwork
and problem-solving skills.

PowerTeaching Cooperative Learning Handbook