The Power of Talk How Words Change Our Lives [Paperback]

This enlightening book helps educators use everyday language to create more equitable school environments, and offers exercises that strengthen communication and leadership skills.This enlightening book helps educators use everyday language to create more equitable school environments, and offers exercises that strengthen communication and leadership skills. In a down-to-earth style, the authors explain how, by paying attention to how we talk, people can make a difference to the quality of life and work in schools. Drawing on real-life examples, they show that by thinking critically about how we habitually interact with others and by making the necessary changes in our own behavior, leaders can model respectful and collaborative ways of addressing and responding to others and gradually change the norms of the whole community. The authors appeal to educators on both a professional and a personal level. Changing the?discourse will not only improve school achievement for students, but will allow educators to more effectively express their beliefs about equitable and socially just education. I like the specific strategies in each chapter for helping educators become aware of how language influences beliefs and assumptions. I also like the suggestions for how to develop skills for using language in a more equitable way. I really liked the tone the authors used throughoutit was never negative or condescending. The authors did a good job of explaining the effects of language without preaching or looking down on those who might not be aware of the effects their language has on others. This book will be very useful for teachers and teacher educators. The organization and accessibility of the concepts in this book are a major strength. The examples that are given are concrete and make concepts easy to understand. This book needs to be in the hands of everyló!