The power of our words : teacher language that helps children learn / Paula Denton. [print]

Includes bibliographical references.

Introduction -- 1: General guidelines for teacher language -- 2: Envisioning: language as a spyglass -- 3: Open-ended questions: stretching children's academic and social learning -- 4: Listening: understanding the message in the words -- 5: Reinforcing language: seeing children and naming their strengths -- 6: Reminding language: helping students remember expectations -- 7: Redirecting language: giving clear commands when children have gone off track -- Epilogue: Putting it all together -- Appendix A: Examples of effective teacher language -- Appendix B: Process of developing more effective teacher language.

From the Publisher: This book, by an author with more than twenty years of experience teaching children and educators, will help you recognize the influence your words have on the children you teach. It will show you how to use language more skillfully, building a classroom where students feel safe, respected, appreciated, and excited about learning. Full of practical tips, real life anecdotes, and concrete examples, this warm and thought- provoking guide includes specific suggestions about language to adopt and language to avoid. Topics include: using language to help children envision success; open-ended questions that stretch children's thinking; listening and using silence skillfully; the 3 Rs of teacher language: reinforcing, reminding, and redirecting; saying what you mean and meaning what you say; giving brief, concrete instructions; offering meaningful, specific encouragement. The sensible approach this book advocates is backed by research and proven through decades of successful practice in elementary classrooms nationwide. It offers ideas beginners can try immediately and a wealth of guidance and support for those farther along in the process of changing their language.

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