Thoughts And Applications of Using Choice Words

This is my second time reading this book. Yet, it seems like the first time I've read it because I'm looking at the power of my words through a new lens. As I reread this book I'm finding myself rethinking how I phrase questions or give prompts.

 So often I get caught up in figuring out what to teach each student as I conference with them during Reader's and Writer's Workshop. I forget to celebrate how far they've come and focus on what is going well. Peter Johnston writes in chapter 2, "The more we rely on expectations and standards, the harder it is to focus on what is going well." He goes on to suggest asking students how they've changed so they realize that they are in the process of becoming.

 Chapter 3 has reminded me of the importance of asking children how they figured something out and making them an active participant in naming what they did and how they feel about their progress. This chapter changed how I speak with children. I no longer say "Good readers..." Or "Good writers..." I simply say, "That's what readers and writers do."

 In chapter 4, Johnston writes about the importance of building "the bridges between action and consequence that develop their sense of agency. " He also points out, "If children are not making errors, they are not putting themselves in learning situations." Children with a strong belief in their own agency are less likely to give up when they encounter difficulty.This caused me to think about a TED talk I heard.

 Recently I listened to a Ted Talk from NPR Radio Hour Podcast on Oct. 31 about success. Angela Duckworth, a University of Pennsylvania professor, is a MacArthur Foundation fellow who studies the role that intellectual strengths and personality traits play in educational achievement. She found that grit, the tendency to sustain interest and effort in pursuing long-term goals, to be a strong indicator of educational success. Students who were intelligent but didn't put much forth effort were
less likely to be successful than those students with grit. I highly recommend listening to this Ted

Talk. You can listen to this 6 minute talk at www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_the_key_to_success_grit.html

Today felt different because I found myself focusing on progress and what was going well. I pointed out to the class that at the beginning of the year they needed help during calendar time figuring out which days were Tuesday and Thursday. A student pointed out that they can figure out Saturday and Sunday  now too. I thanked them for listening and being ready to learn. During math, all of a sudden
they discovered that they could add higher numbers into the thousands just by knowing doubles facts and adding zeroes on. I would not have known this if I hadn't asked them to show me what they know and to challenge them to keep going. I realized today that my class was more engaged because I was inviting them to tell me what they noticed about their learning.