Clarifying the Conversation

Beginning Teacher: I want to do a lesson on metric measurement. My seventh graders know nothing about it, and I know they will have to know it for the state test. I plan to have them stay at their desks and measure things they find in the classroom so they can see the value of knowing about the metric system. What do you think?

 Have you ever had a conversation with someone and upon leaving felt confident that you know where that person stood on an issue, only to later find out what you heard was not what the speaker meant? This happens with our conversations with mentees as well. Often we hear what we want to hear in our conversations with them. 

Clarifying communicates that the listener has…

heard what the speaker said

but does

not fully UNDERSTAND what was said.

Clarifying involves ASKING A QUESTION (direct or implied) to

1. Gather more information

2. Discover the meaning of the language used

3. Get clarity about the speaker’s reasoning

4. Seek connections between ideas

5. Develop or maintain a focus

Some possible clarifying stems include the following:

·         Would you tell me a little more about…?

·         Let me see if I understand….

·         I’d be interested in hearing more about….

·         It’d help me understand if you’d give me an example of….

·         So, are you saying/suggesting….?

·         Tell me what you mean when you…..

·         Tell me how that idea is like (different from)…

·         To what extent….?

·         I’m curious to know more about….

·         I’m intrigued by…/I’m interested in…./I wonder….

·         NOTE: “Why” tends to elicit a defensive responses

Post a Reply:

Use the stems above to ask some clarifying questions about this lesson presented in the scenario.

How could you “steer” the conversation to support the mentee in developing a more viable lesson plan?

How might you be able to use some of these stems in your work with your mentees?