Blog

Open‑ended questions are a core skill in motivational interviewing in schools because they invite students to tell their story in their own words rather than answering with a yes or no. The right questions help teachers, counselors, and other educators understand what is really going on and gently draw out students’ own reasons to change.

Motivational interviewing isn’t only for long, sit‑down meetings. You can use MI in quick hallway check‑ins, after‑class conversations, and short office drop‑ins by focusing on a few core skills and the spirit of partnership.

If you’ve heard of motivational interviewing, you’ve probably heard of OARS. OARS stands for open questions, affirmations, reflections, and summaries, the four core skills that shape how MI conversations sound in real life.