The Missouri Reader Vol. 37, Issue 2 | Page 64

LASTING EFFECTS OF LANGUAGE
Andrea Hughes
Abstract
This essay reviews two books by Peter
Johnston on the way language can affect
students. Choice Words focuses on the language
that teacher’s use in the classroom and how that
affects the way in which children learn. The
things that teachers say and do not say have an
immediate impact on student learning and
literacy attainment. Opening Minds focuses not
only on the classroom, but also on the way that
language can affect student’s view of the world
and their future. Johnston provides examples on
how teachers should engage children with talk
that creates democratic learning and classroom
communities. The books give insight into how
teachers should reflect and refocus their
language in order to best create learning
environments that support all learners. This
review address the language used in successful
classrooms, the implication for language and
representational practices of assessment, and
how language is viewed in high stakes testing
situations.
e learn our words from others.
Learning is social, drawing on our
backgrounds and interactions with others.
Children build a foundation of language
through interaction with adults, drawing in
others voices and making it their own.
Language is a powerful tool that can affect the
literate lives of students. As teachers, we
have the ability to make an impact on student
learning, more specifically the ability to help
students create literate identities. The words
we choose to use in our classrooms make a
big impact. Our words should encourage
conversations, build student agency, and
increase student development. Think of that

particularly difficult day when one of your
students seems to be off track and can’t seem
to get back where he needs to be. The
language that you choose to use can make or
break this situation. If the student is
reprimanded, will the behavior change? Will
the student suddenly see the choices he is
making, or will he get frustrated and give up?
If we reframe our language and instead point
out to the student that this behavior is unlike
him, the results will be drastically different.
Helping frame the situation as one in which
you ask the child to reflect on the situation
and invite the child to rethink the person he
wishes to
be the
Andrea Hughes is a 5th grade
child is
teacher at Rose Acres
given the
Elementary in St. Louis,
power to
Missouri. She earned her
create and
bachelor’s degree from
change his
Webster University where her
identity to
love of children's literature
a positive
began to grow. The
one.
excitement that her students
Language
is
showed when she was able to
powerful;
help them find that just right
we must
book encouraged her to
use it
pursue a Master's Degree in
wisely in
Literacy from the University
order to
of Missouri. Andrea is
build
currently pursuing a Doctoral
successful,
Degree in Literacy from the
confident
University of Missouri-St.
students.
Louis.
Choice
Words, by
Peter
Johnston (2004) focuses on the
conversations, and more specifically the
language that teachers use to encourage
students to become strategic thinkers and
©The Missouri Reader, 37 (2) p.64