QUESTION:

Sometimes I have trouble choosing the right words.  I usually always ask a question though.  For example I might ask,  “Why are you talking during this lesson?“ or “Why are you choosing to play with your pencil instead of listening?”

DR. MARSHALL’S RESPONSE:

Never ask “Why?”  It is accusatory.

And besides people often do not know why they do things.  Even if they could, they may not want to tell you the real reason.

If you are just curious ask, “Why did do X rather than Y?”  You may still get, “I don’t know.”

The point:  Forget the use of “Why?”

A related posting:

Can you give me some examples of reflective questions?

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Posted In: Reflection
posted On: July 16, 2010: 2:09 pm: By Kerry Weisner
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