| School is like a second home to students. It certainly was for me. School and staff play an important role in students lives. School is a place that is safe, trusted and respected. It follows that a school should do just that, respect and believe in students. If a student lacks knowledge in a skill, we should constantly remind the student of his weakness. We should motivate the student by choosing our words carefully. For instance, instead of using the word “but” use the word “and” as stated in How to Create a Culture of Achievement. |
I would say that we all are aware of the impact of our choice of words. However, I think that at times we lapse and do not consider the impacts. Choice of words is something that everyone should work on, teachers and non-teachers. “Words can hurt or heal, What did yours do today?” This is a quote that I have in my classroom. Students see it everyday, and frequently I remind them of this quote.
A colleague who retired last year used various negative words with students. His choice of words was very astonishing to me. Examples of these words were: “bombs”, “your mother dropped you on your head that’s why you cannot learn anything”, and “stupid.”
As a leader it would be my duty to “expose staff to cutting-edge ideas about how to be effective, involve staff in reading articles and books about effective practices, and stay informed about current research and theory regarding effective school.” (Waters, pg. 33). I would require staff to attend professional development about choice of words. I would also have them read How to Create a Culture of Achievement. We would meet once a week, talk about the reading and how they have been incorporating it in their classroom. I would also assign collegial partners to support and provide feedback to each other.
I commit to the five things stated below to make my school choose words wisely.
References
Fisher, Douglas, Nancy Frey, and Ian Pumpian. How to create a culture of achievement in your school and classroom. ASCD, 2012.
Waters, T. "The Balanced Leadership Framework: Connection ... - Eric." 2007. <http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED544245.pdf>
"Week 4 Culture - YouTube." 2015. 17 Feb. 2015 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgSk8Hdg3uc>
A colleague who retired last year used various negative words with students. His choice of words was very astonishing to me. Examples of these words were: “bombs”, “your mother dropped you on your head that’s why you cannot learn anything”, and “stupid.”
As a leader it would be my duty to “expose staff to cutting-edge ideas about how to be effective, involve staff in reading articles and books about effective practices, and stay informed about current research and theory regarding effective school.” (Waters, pg. 33). I would require staff to attend professional development about choice of words. I would also have them read How to Create a Culture of Achievement. We would meet once a week, talk about the reading and how they have been incorporating it in their classroom. I would also assign collegial partners to support and provide feedback to each other.
I commit to the five things stated below to make my school choose words wisely.
- Share this week’s reading with staff
- Provide each staff a photocopy of the quote that I have in my classroom, “words can hurt or heal, what did yours do today?”
- Use the word “and” instead of “but”.
- Provide critical feedback to students and colleagues.
- Come into close proximity when communicating with students and colleagues.
References
Fisher, Douglas, Nancy Frey, and Ian Pumpian. How to create a culture of achievement in your school and classroom. ASCD, 2012.
Waters, T. "The Balanced Leadership Framework: Connection ... - Eric." 2007. <http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED544245.pdf>
"Week 4 Culture - YouTube." 2015. 17 Feb. 2015 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgSk8Hdg3uc>