The Power of Our Words: Teacher Language That Helps Children Learn

Lot's of food for thought!

I love this book, I know it's written for teachers in classrooms but this is a book I would recommend to new and experienced parents. There's so much researched information on being positive and how it affects kids in school and life. And how to apply it, similar to how you'd role play, it's fantastic. I'd sign up to help rewrite as a book for parents if anyone wants to contact me :) I could have used this when my kids were in elementary school!

Great read for elementary school teachers. Helps with lesson deliverance

As a classroom teacher in inner city schools for 8 years, I have found myself immersed in school cultures which were disrespectful and authoritarian toward parents and students. This book presents a different approach to the teacher's role as a catalyst for learning. Well-grounded in pedagogical theory, it is pragmatic in its descriptions of how language that encourages motivation and responsibility might sound. For example, one area the book addresses well is the delivery of reinforcement. I have always felt that nonspecific praise such as "good job" didn't really help students understand what it was about their academic or behavioral improvement that merited recognition. It made me uncomfortable that feedback in this form made students dependent on my approval and tethered them to my judgment alone. This book helped me understand how I can clearly communicate evidence of growth to the student so that he or she can perceive that success. In "The Power of Our Words," Denton helps teachers envision how they can communicate with students in ways which promote personal and intellectual engagement. She offers supportive suggestions to help teachers figure out how they might change their own style of language. Finally, the book inspires the hope that as we hone the clarity of our messages in classroom speech, we will be more efficacious in helping students become autonomous, reflective, and motivated learners. I believe that is a major key to closing the achievement gap.

Power of Our Words is a great book for teachers who want to manage their classrooms through cooperation rather than intimidation. Even great teachers can appreciate reading it because it will reinforce what you already know to be important when interacting with children. You will feel good about all that you are doing right. New teachers will gain valuable support for how to get started on sure footing. Give it a try.