“Language is the essential
condition of knowing, the process by which experience becomes knowledge.” Michael Halliday
With my book sharing buddy and colleague,
I attended a workshop last Thursday to listen to Peter H. Johnston talk about
his latest discoveries about how using language precisely can make huge
differences in students' ability to learn and trust, and just feel so
comfortable in their skins. It was an exhilarating day of some table
talk, but mostly listening to this author of Choice Words and Opening Minds. We spent
much of the day enjoying parts of Peter's stories from Opening Minds
and our own conversations as we applied the questions and ideas to our
individual experiences. I’ll share some of the highlights I thought
important. As I re-read this second
book, I may add more another time.
Early in the book, Peter
writes: “My intention with this book is
to offer a basis for choosing more productive talk—how to make the most of
these opportunities children offer us.”
