1. What role does school play in building students’ agency and identity?
I think school has a large role in building students’ agency and identity. Every single person that has been through the school system has memories about it and moments that defined their lives and identity, however small. Positive and negative experiences in school are carried with us. Schools are where we grow independently from our parents, and have to make choices and deal with consequences.
2. How aware are you and your colleagues of the impact our choice of words have on developing students’ agency and identity? Can you give examples?
My colleagues and I are hyper-aware of the words we use with students, but after reviewing the readings and the screencast I am not sure if it is in the right effort. We focus a lot on code switching, modeling academic speech, not perpetuating any language affiliated with gangs or negative lifestyle choices that got them there. I don’t think we are doing enough to praise them for their good choices. A lot of our words are meant to keep order, but not necessarily build up the students.
3 & 4. What would you do, if anything, to make using choice words a more conscious and accountable school wide practice if you were the school leader?
What could you do, if anything, to make the use of choice words a more conscious and accountable personal practice as well as one embraced by others on your site?
We just had a training about PBIS strategies and the age old method of praising good behavior while ignoring less desirable behaviors. This week I have been trying hard to keep that in mind. PBIS is a method we are just starting to learn strategies for, but this is one tactic that I can start with within my own current sphere of influence, my classroom. So far, PBIS is really resonating with me, and if I were a school leader I would definitely look into implementing a similar system school wide.