As
you’ve no doubt noticed, the title for this post is, “Questions as
Invitations.” Full disclosure: The
subtitle should be “Coaching for Word Nerds.”
As
a literacy teacher, I’ve taught lessons about the importance of word
choice. One right word is better than
ten almost-right ones, or, as Mark Twain said, “The
difference between the almost right word and the right word
is really a large matter – ‘tis the difference between the lightning bug and
the lightning.”
Leave
out the adverbs and choose the right verb. Leave out the adjectives and choose
the right noun. When writing, words
matter. When coaching, words matter, too.
Take
the word “celebrate.” I agree with
Ruth
Ayers
that celebration is a good thing. Even
the word celebration sounds
celebratory! You can take advantage of that
word power when coaching. After an
observation, you can jump right in with “What do you want to celebrate about
that lesson?” I promise, you’re going to
get a better response than if you ask, “What was successful about today’s
lesson?” Don’t you feel happier just
thinking about it?
Instead
of asking, “What frustrated (or confused) you during the lesson?” ask, “What
were you puzzled by?” Being puzzled positions the teacher as a
problem-solver rather than someone overwrought by the situation.
And
don’t ask for evidence unless you want the teacher to feel she is on
trial. Ask what clues the teacher noticed during a lesson that indicated students’
understanding (or lack of it). Being a
detective is more fun than being a lawyer (that’s true in the movies, anyway!).
Even
the form of the word we choose can make a difference. Asking, “What challenged you?” positions the teacher as someone boldly facing
challenges. Asking, “What challenges did you have?” gives an image of an
uncontrollable avalanche.
And
if a lesson flopped, and you and the teacher both know it, sometimes it can
work to overstate the situation. A
little trouble calls for revision, but
a big problem calls for an overhaul. This out-of-context word can take the edge off
of a difficult situation rather than the typical, “What would you do
differently.”
Some
questions feel like invitations, welcoming participation. The words we choose can urge and encourage,
suggest and prompt. In situations where
we’ve already established relationships, or where teaching is sailing smoothly
along, careful attention to words isn’t quite as important. But in less-ideal situations, if we want our
teacher-guests to whole-heartedly participate in the coaching conversation
we’ve invited them to, we must be careful wielders of the word. What are your favorite coaching words? How
will you wield them? Here’s to coaching word nerds!
This
week, you might want to take a look at:
Vocab
review using “Word Sneak” (with a digital twist):
Sign
up for news about the 2018 Global Read Aloud:
Books with resilient characters:
Spread
positivity – morale boosts for teachers:
Reminder
to talk “with” students, not “at” them:
That’s
it for this week. Happy Coaching!
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