Counselora · Classroom lesson
Asking for clearer schoolwork directions
Grades 6–8 · Ready-made original
Learning goal
Name the confusing part of a task and ask for useful help.
Materials
The student page below and a pencil.
Opening question · 3 minutes
“What question names the confusing direction?”
A school situation · 5 minutes
Devon reads 'compare the two sources' on an assignment and is unsure what compare means here. Devon says, 'I do not get any of this.' The teacher asks which part is confusing, but Devon is not sure how to explain.
One possible response · 4 minutes
“What does compare mean for these two sources? Could you show one example?”
Practice · 10 minutes
What question names the confusing direction?
1. A direction says explain your answer. The student has an answer but no example of an explanation.
2. The student receives an example but still does not understand the first step.
Possible answers
1. “Could you show what one explanation should include?”
2. “Could we work through the first step together?”
Student page · 5 minutes
Use the ready-to-print student page at the end of this lesson. Students may write, draw, or give an answer aloud.
Exit question · 3 minutes
“Choose one of the stories. What could the student say or do first?”
Student page to print
Asking for clearer schoolwork directions
Write, draw, or say your answer. You may pass.
An example
Devon reads 'compare the two sources' on an assignment and is unsure what compare means here. Devon says, 'I do not get any of this.' The teacher asks which part is confusing, but Devon is not sure how to explain.
What question names the confusing direction?
One possible response: “What does compare mean for these two sources? Could you show one example?”
1. A direction says explain your answer. The student has an answer but no example of an explanation.
What question names the confusing direction?
2. The student receives an example but still does not understand the first step.
What question names the confusing direction?
One sentence to keep
Choose one story above. Write the first thing the person could say or do.