After reading Opening Minds by Peter H. Johnston I had to go back and read the first book Choice Words. I am so impressed by the readability and ease of relating to the stories and examples of classroom and teacher speak that are given throughout. Being a Literacy coach in a big urban school district I am always looking for new ways to help teachers help their students find engagement and look forward to discussions about books and writing and their learning. The best way to do this is through the language we use with our students. We need to speak to them in a manner that shows them that they are in charge of their learning! Too many teachers are hierarchical in their views of students. That's "old school " and that's why our students of today cannot make it past being skilled enough to stand on an assembly line in a factory that no longer exists.
Language makes the difference.