Dear colleagues,
As I argue in Strategy #1 of The Will to Learn, it is wise to systematically pull each of our students aside (once per month or so) and speak with them for 30-90 seconds. These moments of genuine connection (MGCs) cultivate Credibility and Belonging and form the bedrock of classrooms and schools in which every student is known.
Recently, I came across a set of clever interruption moves from Dan Rockwell's Leadership Freak newsletter.* Rockwell argues that while interrupting someone while they're talking isn't always a good idea, the below interruption moves can actually improve conversation quality. I plan to print these out and keep them with my MGC clipboard this fall. (I've included them on my printable MGC cheat sheet doc, which you can make a copy of here.)
Here are the moves:
- Interjections that show interest and curiosity.
- Do you mean…? Wait, did you say…? Hold on, that seems important.
- Circling back so good ideas don’t slip away.
- Before we go on, I’d like to go back to… That reminds me of something important…
- Getting nosey.
- How did that affect you? What are you not saying? Tell me what you really think.
- Oversharing a little without hijacking the conversation.
- The same thing happened to me. I’ve felt like that.
- “Judging” gently.
- You’re kidding… I can’t believe it…
- Having fun speaking the truth, but only when there’s trust.
- You’re nuts. Have you lost your mind?
Pretty smart, right? Wanted to share in case it helps.
Teaching right beside you,
DSJR
*P.S. Thank you to Kim Marshall, who wrote a memo about Rockwell's interruptive moves.
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