I'm not sure about all of you, but Johnston's story of the woman whose husband brought home a turkey that he hit with a truck struck a chord with me. A friend called the turkey "road kill" and just those two little words made it impossible for the woman to eat it. The words we use...what we name something in our classrooms...can really form a child's opinion about it. On page 7 Johnston writes " the language we choose in our teaching changes the world that the child inhabits now, and those they will build in the future." I was thinking about the language I use to teach is the language I was taught with years ago...I can hear my teachers...my college professors...even my mother!!!... The language we use with students now, will likely be what they use in the future. I think it's quite possible that a LOT of what I say to kids may not contribute to their growth as thinkers. That cartoon on page 7 made me wonder. Does the language I use help students become independent thinkers? Or obedient and passive children?
As you read this opening chapter, what were YOU thinking about? Jennifer L. Palmer, Ed. D. List moderator Instructional Facilitator National Board Certified Teacher _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive
