Power of Good Questions

12/18/2013

May you have the courage to listen to the voice of desire, That disturbs you when you have settled for something safe. May you have the wisdom to enter generously into your own unease, To discover the new direction your longing wants you to take.
John O’Donohue

"Good questions are at the heart of effective supervision and essential for nurturing teachers' reflective practice, advise Paula Jorde, Ann Hentschel, and Jill Bella in their new book, Inspiring Peak Performance.

"Many issues that teachers confront have no easy answers. Sharp incisive questions can help teachers discover their own answers and unleash their creative energy to envision new possibilities. In a nutshell, good questions help support teachers' continued growth and success.

"The key from a supervisory standpoint is to frame questions so that the exchange doesn't seem like an interrogation. For this reason it is important to avoid asking 'why' questions whenever possible. Questions like 'Why was Jeremy left alone in the nap room?' or 'Why did you do that?' immediately put a teacher on the defensive. They imply that you already made a judgment about their actions.

"Instead, starting with a stem such as 'I am curious about how...' or 'Help me understand how...' can lead to a more productive conversation to understand the rationale for behavior, rather than the finger-pointing tone implied when using why."

EZ-CARE2 center management software can save you time and improve your cash flow. Get your free trial today by calling (800) 220-4111 or visiting www.ezcare2.com

Are You Growing Strong Readers? Webinar Series with Follett

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.