Sharon Rendon, Coaching Coordinator
In the January newsletter, I began this series based on Jim Knight’s book, Better Conversations, and considered how one might incorporate the two beliefs, I want to hear what others have to say and Conversation should be back and forth, when facilitating effective study teams and creating student centered mathematics classrooms.
When considering the value of collaboration in today’s education system, one must consider the challenges presented when working collaboratively. Leaders in the education field agree that together teachers are smarter, but when they are asked to collaborate, many teachers feel it would just be easier “do the work” themselves rather than collaborating. If you are fortunate enough to work in a place that is a professional learning community, you know the trials that come with true collaboration.
Just recently I heard a teacher say, “Why can’t my grade level colleagues just read the research and apply the recommendations like I do? I present it and they refuse to consider a different option.” This dilemma sits at the heart of better conversations.
Listening with empathy is a foundation and a great beginning point for developing our ability to understand what our conversation partners think and feel. This empathy is really seeing the world through another’s eyes and heart. The main core of empathy is developing the ability to listen. Listening requires more of us than just not talking.
There are four strategies laid out in Knight’s book that will develop one’s ability to be a better listener. Those strategies include:
- Commit to really listen.
- Be the listener, not the speaker.
- Pause and think before you respond.
- Do not interrupt.
Knight says, “When we demonstrate empathy, we see beyond our stereotypes and stop seeing people as objects.” This will help one to see others as equals and valuable contributors to our learning community.
So whether you are working in a collaborative team or you are working with your students in their study teams, consider how you might begin to incorporate one of these strategies to become a better listener.
