FACILITATIVE TALK: Shaping a Culture of Professional Learning Over Time
Reprinted with permission from THE READING TEACHER
VOLUME 74, NUMBER 5, APRIL 2021. The way we speak to each other is often so deeply ingrained
as to be unconscious. We often use language automatically,
without any thought: “How are you?” “Great job!” “No
problem.” “I’m all set.” “Go for it!” Yet, the language we use matters.
It has everything to do with what we believe; what we learn; how we
perceive ourselves, events, and other people; how we affect other
people; and how we work and live together. Think about the many ways that people use a
common language to shape their societies—not only
large societies but also smaller communities, such
as athletic teams and clubs, and workplace communities.
Language is created by society, incorporating
social values, and in turn, language influences the
values of that society. Language, and
the way we use it to represent ideas, people, places, events, and experiences, shapes our thinking and our values and influences the identities of others.
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