What We Say and How We Say It Matter: Teacher Talk That Improves Student Learning and Behavior

We all want our students to feel safe, collaborate well with others, feel ownership for their learning, and be joyfully engaged in their work. Nevertheless, many teachers end up using language patterns that undermine these goals. Do any of these scenarios sound familiar?

• We want students to take responsibility for their learning, yet we use language that implies teacher ownership.
• We want to build positive relationships with students, yet we use sarcasm when we get frustrated.
• We want st...