This month, the Metamorphosis team is reading School Talk which has us reflecting on what we say to students and how we say it.

Can you think of a time when someone said something that changed how you saw yourself and your abilities? Some of us have memories of educators, maybe even peers, whose encouraging words helped us to build confidence in ourselves and our abilities. Unfortunately, others can recall interactions with educators or peers that made them think they are not good enough to pursue certain subjects or opportunities.

In her thought-provoking book, School Talk, Mika Pollock makes a compelling argument why the words we use in schools matter. “Communication is action: talk about (and with) young people shapes their lives,” writes Pollock in her introduction. Our words influence how we see, treat, and support students and peers. 

The reality is that creating equity, as Polock points out, starts with our words. Talking down to students who are marginalized can deter them from reaching their full potential, or impacting their self esteem which is not ideal. A good example Pollock gives is a teacher or peer calling a student’s community “ghetto.” This word can negatively influence how a young person sees themselves and their school. Alternatively, labeling some students “gifted” can change how students are treated and the opportunities afforded to them. 

Pollock lists  a few questions to help us think through what we say and how we say it in an education community.

1. What am I saying (or have I said in the past) that might harm a child’s sense of worth?

2. How might I become more conscious of the impact of my words on peers and students?

3. What prevents me from thoughtfully speaking up when I hear exchanges between students or peers that are demoralizing? How can I overcome that barrier?

4. What could I have said today that could build a student’s sense of self confidence?

Changing how we communicate takes time and will not be a flawless process, but committing to becoming more conscious of how our words impact others is a worthwhile endeavor and one those of us who influence children, especially need to become sensitive to.

Find out more about “School Talking” here.