Guiding Children's Questions

As I was reading the section on "Guiding Questions" in Chapter 5 of the Drake & Burns textbook, I thought about how easy it is to just offer a "yes" or "no" question to students.  One thing I have always been taught as an early childhood teacher is to be sure to ask lots of open-ended questions.  The book calls these "guideing questions".  Sometimes asking"guiding questions" can be difficult because you have to be ready for any answer and it could take a really long time to get to the final point.  As I lead group time I like to ask open-ended questions and sometimes it can make our carpet time last what seems like forever.  I love to hear anwers and listen to the children's vocabulary as they try to answer my questions.  I work with very young children which often means their answers of very interesting!!  I tend to use more "topic questions" than ""essential questions" because my students are not ready for the abstract.  They need a little help to stay on topic, or who knows what you will be talking about my the end of the day.  I also use a lot of open-ended questions as I work through the learning centers with my students.  I like to make them think about what they are doing and as "what if" and "how could you" questions.  It is quite interesting to hear the answers when they have to think and use their imagination and prior learning knowledge.  I think I teach a great age to begin the important use of "guided questions".