What does the student need right now?
Every question should help the student:
- Reflect on their experiences
- Increase self-awareness
- Recognize strengths
- Explore possibilities
- Commit to meaningful action
When we ask thoughtful questions, we invite students to think more deeply, uncover insights they may not have considered, and take ownership of their next steps. Before asking a question, consider: What do I hope this question will help the student discover? When your purpose is clear, choosing the right question becomes much easier. Ask yourself BEFORE you ask a question: "What does the student need right now?" ... not "What question should I ask?"
The UW Coach's Question Toolkit
The right question as the right time can change the conversation. Great coaches use questions to create reflection, encourage ownership, uncover strengths, explore possibilities, and lead to action.
- Tell me about how things are going.
- What's been on your mind lately?
- What's most important for us to talk about today?
- What are you hoping to get out of our conversation?
- What would you like to focus on today?
- Tell me more about that.
- What do you think contributed to this?
- What surprised you?
- What was going through your mind?
- What has this experience been like for you?
- What has gone well this semester?
- What are you most proud of?
- When have you been successful before?
- What strengths helped you then?
- What resources do you already have?
- What are some possibilities?
- If nothing were standing in your way, what would you do?
- What have you already considered?
- What haven't you tried yet?
- Who could help?
- What's one small step you could take this week?
- What feels realistic?
- What are you willing to commit to?
- How will you know you're making progress?
- What could get in the way?
- What's making this feel difficult?
- What's the hardest part?
- If we could solve just one thing today, what would it be?
- What would make the biggest difference?
- Why didn't you...? (Try: What got in the way?)
- Don't you think ...? (Try: What do you think?)
- Have you tried tutoring? (Try: What resources have you considered?)
- Why are you missing class? (Try: Help me understand what's been happening.)
- You should ... (Try: What feels like a good next step?)
The University of Wyoming has earned its Research Level 1 (R1) status from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, placing Wyoming's only four-year university with the top research universities in the United States.