Your Magic Wand for a Strong Finish
The Magic Wand: A Simple Shift for Spring
We all tend to get a little myopic at this time of the school year, when the challenges that we haven’t overcome are wearing us down…whether it’s that one student’s behavior or that particular unit that just won’t land. We’ve tried everything all year, and at this point, we’d rather just be outside enjoying the spring weather.
If you’re a leader who supports teachers, more advice won’t get a teacher out of their rut… Instead, use a question prompt that offers a space of possibility.
The Question
Next time you’re supporting a colleague who feels stuck, try this: “Imagine you can wave a magic wand and take yourself to the last day of school. Imagine that you feel satisfied with how things ended with [X situation]. Describe the positive resolution.”
What is it? An open-ended question that invites a person (think, a teacher, a colleague) to look ahead to a specific outcome.
It goes like this: “Imagine you can wave a magic wand and take yourself to the end of the school year. You feel satisfied with how things ended with X situation. Describe how things ended.”
Why It Works
Yes, it has a playful name—but it’s actually a powerful coaching move that:
Shifts Headspace: It provides immediate relief by allowing the teacher to see beyond the current frustration and into a future where they have succeeded.
Builds Agency: By describing the ideal outcome, the teacher begins to reclaim a sense of influence and control.
Clarifies Ideals: It helps them identify what they actually want to happen, which is the first step toward making it a reality.
The Magic Wand In Action
Challenging Behavior in Middle School: I recently used this with a middle school social studies teacher who felt he’d tried everything with a particular student with oppositional-defiance disorder. I asked him to imagine the classroom was empty on the final day of school, and he felt truly satisfied with the progress he had made with that student. By describing that "satisfied" feeling, he realized he didn't need the student to be perfect; he just needed a relationship built on mutual respect. This opened the door for him to outline ways he could set the tone for mutual respect in the coming weeks.
The Engagement Slump: For a 1st-grade teacher who feels her students have checked out, you might ask: “Imagine waving a magic wand that takes you to June…you’ve made it to the last day of school. Imagine that your students turned a corner and stayed engaged through the end. What did you do to make that happen?”
Tips for Success
Stay curious! This is definitely when you keep your coaching hat on tight - avoid the urge to fix it for them.
Hold the Space: Convey your belief in their capacity through your body language--open posture, eye contact, and head nods that say “I’m with you.”
Spring “Coach Approach” FREE Webinar Series
If you’re curious about how this type of coaching conversation sounds in real-time, join us in April for a two-part webinar series. You’ll watch a live coaching demonstration utilizing the "Magic Wand" and other powerful protocols. Register here.
