Collaboration in a Systems Change Model: Cognitive Coaching – A Strategic Approach Suzanne Arnold Professional Learning Coordinator National Institute for Urban School Improvement January 11, 2007

Essential Cognitive Coaching Tools 1.Effective Listening Strategies 2.Well-Crafted Questions 3.Focused Dialogue through Paraphrasing

Effective Listening Strategies

Listening Styles  Appreciative - seeks enjoyment & humor, relaxed  Empathic - supportive of speaker, feelings, body language  Comprehensive - organized thought, needs logic  Discerning - details are important, takes notes  Evaluative - listen analytically, asks a lot of questions

Habits of Listening Ignoring Pretending Selective Attentive

Adapted from Cognitive Coaching SM, Arthur L. Costa and Robert J. Garmston, Co-Developers. Presented in cooperation with the Center for Cognitive Coaching, PO Box , Highlands Ranch, CO Listening Set-Asides  IT’S All about ME ….NOT!!!  Autobiographical - My… - I remember when … - I know…  Inquisitive –OOOOOH! –WOW! –Interesting! –Why did … Did you expect? … How is that?  Solution –Have you tried? –Could you? –Are there? –Is it? –How about?

How can we improve our listening skills?  Eliminate distractions  Concentrate  Focus on the speaker  Maintain an open mind  Look for nonverbal cues  Do not react to emotive words  Ask questions  Sit so you can see & hear  Avoid prejudices  Take notes  Ask for clarification

Well Crafted Questions Invitation to engage & think Voice, Plurals, Tentative language, Inviting stems

Choice of Voice CredibleApproachable EvenVoiceMelodic Level/StillHeadTilted/bobs Straight; feet together, chin down BodyFluid Informing/ Commanding IntentionsSeeking/ inquiring SilentResponsivenessAcknowledging/ Noisy

Plurals "What are some of your goals?” "What ideas do you have?" "What outcomes do you seek?" "What alternatives are you considering?

Tentativeness “What might be some factors that would cause……?” “In what other ways could you solve this problem?” "What hunches do you have that may explain this situation?”

Invitational Stems:  “As you recall….”  “As you anticipate…….”  “As you envision……”  “Given what you know about…….”

Three Linguistic Components INVITATIONAL STEMSCOGNITIVE OPERATIONS CONTENT As you... What seems... What are some… How might you... What led to... What are some possible... What might... How might these... How should... What are your hunches about… Input Recall Define Describe Identify Name List Process Compare Contrast Infer Analyze Sequence Synthesize Summarize Output Predict Evaluate Speculate Imagine Envision Hypothesize Internal Reaction Feelings Thoughts Emotions External Project Other Students Group Event Goals Lesson Student Work Test score, data Observations

Presuppositions Hidden meanings below the surface of language. For example: “What do these examples have in common?” “How can we use this experience to learn even more effective ways to solve this problem?

Limiting Presuppositions  “Do you have an objective?”  “Why were you unsuccessful?”  “If only you had ….”

Empowering Presuppositions  “What are some of the goals that you have in mind for this meeting?  “As you consider your alternatives what seems most promising?  “What might be some personal learnings or insights that you will carry forward to future situations?

Paraphrasing: Focused Dialogue

Paraphrases Acknowledge and Clarify So, you’re wondering if… You’re thinking that… Organize and Summarize First you’re going to…, then you will… So, to recap you have three… Shift Level of Abstraction/Conceptual Focus So a strong belief you hold is… A goal for you is…

Paraphrasing Attend fully Listen to understand WAIT! Capture the essence of the message Reflect the essence of non- verbal components Paraphrase before asking a question Use “you”, not “I”

Paraphrasing Practice “Look at the data! The test scores across grades are all over the place and they have been declining steadily for the past four years for some of these kids!” Acknowledge/Clarify – Summarize/Organize – Shifting Level of Abstraction -

Collaborative Reflective Conference Role-Play Form Pairs - One person takes on the role of the coach, the other the coachee Role-play an actual collaborative reflective conference based on the “Vision” maps developed in the previous activity Read or share plan with your partner and role play a cognitive coaching session