1. What role does school play in building students’ agency and identity?
"When teachers understand that the language they use can build the stories children tell about themselves, they use this knowledge to help students develop a positive identity." (Fisher, Frey, and Pumpian, 2012, p. 83). The language we use in the classroom has a deep effect on our students. We need to be thinking about educating them not only to pass tests, but also to live a healthy and happy life emotionally.
2. How aware are you and your colleagues of the impact our choice of words have on developing students’ agency and identity? Can you give examples?
One of my first lessons as a substitute teacher was that me and elementary school students are not the best fit. I am not proud of it, but it is hard for me to turn off the sarcasm sometimes. I have been reminded of this lesson many times as an educator, but it will always be a struggle for me to eliminate it from my classroom.
As a school, we probably take word choice a little more literally than we should. The spirit of this pillar is to focus on building student agency and identity, but we focus on calling students "scholars" and teachers "learning facilitators". There is a purpose and meaning to these labels, but it is so unnatural and we are constantly reminded. If we could shift this focus to a better objective, we would be great.
3. What would you do, if anything, to make using choice words a more conscious and accountable school wide practice if you were the school leader?
To create a school culture where words matter, we need to make words important in every class. Teachers should celebrate new vocabulary, and address word choice as a class. Sometimes words are making an impact when we do not realize it. Students use language that is easy. I tell my students all the time that cussing or insulting someone is lazy. If they really want to be able to express themselves and make people understand how they feel, they need to choose their words carefully. Word walls are great, and taking a few minutes each day to teach and celebrate new words can go a long way.
4. What could you do, if anything, to make the use of choice words a more conscious and accountable personal practice as well as one embraced by others on your site? Are those things within your sphere of influence?
I have always wanted to make a word wall in my classroom. For each word that we come across and do not know, we can add to the wall. I think this is more about creating the culture where words matter, and not something that will really be studied by students every day. I can give students bonus points for using words from the wall in discussions and responses.
5. Commit to 5 things you are willing to do this semester that will make your school choose words wisely?
1. Word wall
2. Address lazy word choices
3. Give compliments and leave out the "but" clause
4. Listen to students
5. Be more mindful of my proximity to each student every day.
"When teachers understand that the language they use can build the stories children tell about themselves, they use this knowledge to help students develop a positive identity." (Fisher, Frey, and Pumpian, 2012, p. 83). The language we use in the classroom has a deep effect on our students. We need to be thinking about educating them not only to pass tests, but also to live a healthy and happy life emotionally.
2. How aware are you and your colleagues of the impact our choice of words have on developing students’ agency and identity? Can you give examples?
One of my first lessons as a substitute teacher was that me and elementary school students are not the best fit. I am not proud of it, but it is hard for me to turn off the sarcasm sometimes. I have been reminded of this lesson many times as an educator, but it will always be a struggle for me to eliminate it from my classroom.
As a school, we probably take word choice a little more literally than we should. The spirit of this pillar is to focus on building student agency and identity, but we focus on calling students "scholars" and teachers "learning facilitators". There is a purpose and meaning to these labels, but it is so unnatural and we are constantly reminded. If we could shift this focus to a better objective, we would be great.
3. What would you do, if anything, to make using choice words a more conscious and accountable school wide practice if you were the school leader?
To create a school culture where words matter, we need to make words important in every class. Teachers should celebrate new vocabulary, and address word choice as a class. Sometimes words are making an impact when we do not realize it. Students use language that is easy. I tell my students all the time that cussing or insulting someone is lazy. If they really want to be able to express themselves and make people understand how they feel, they need to choose their words carefully. Word walls are great, and taking a few minutes each day to teach and celebrate new words can go a long way.
4. What could you do, if anything, to make the use of choice words a more conscious and accountable personal practice as well as one embraced by others on your site? Are those things within your sphere of influence?
I have always wanted to make a word wall in my classroom. For each word that we come across and do not know, we can add to the wall. I think this is more about creating the culture where words matter, and not something that will really be studied by students every day. I can give students bonus points for using words from the wall in discussions and responses.
5. Commit to 5 things you are willing to do this semester that will make your school choose words wisely?
1. Word wall
2. Address lazy word choices
3. Give compliments and leave out the "but" clause
4. Listen to students
5. Be more mindful of my proximity to each student every day.