Often, it is used in literature circles where students come to the group to share their own ideas in response to reading and hear the ideas of their peers.
Teachers facilitate the discussion by using guiding questions to prompt the sharing of ideas.
The following tips for shared inquiry come from the Montgomery County Public Schools, Maryland, Early Literacy Guide. With shared inquiry, both the teacher and students ask the questions. Students discuss the question and ask follow-up questions to extend their meaning. During discussions, teachers allow time for students to think before answering and time to rethink their answers based on later discussion. Teachers can help students examine questions more thoroughly by asking follow-up questions, which require students to be accurate and specific.