Choice Words pt 2

I finished the next two chapters. Chapter 3 especially gives lots of ideas of things to say, and not to say, to help students build a sense of identity as a reader, writer, scientist, etc. Instead of telling the task, you can present it with, "As _______, how should we tackle this?" By using these words students build their own meaning as well as understanding that we are (learners, researchers, mathematicians, etc) and in our class we figure things out without waiting for someone to tell us the answers. There are also suggestions for what to do when kids don't behave the way we expect them to. They are very helpful and I will be referring back to these as the year goes on.

Chapter 4 focused on agency, building agency in students so that they understand that they can accomplish anything. It allows for more than just focusing on curriculum, but essentially, how to face problems in class and what to do about them. Asking questions like, "What problems did you face today?" allow students to relate to the fact that they will encounter problems on a daily basis and having a plan is critical.