My first initial thought while reading choice words was that it was really dry and hard get through; just being honest. I also didn’t read it in the traditional sense I listened to it as an audio book though Audible. Which I must say was nice because Peter Johnston has what I think is a rather nice Australian accent.
However, after getting though the book the part that stood out to me the most was in chapter 4 when Johnston referred to agency and a child’s need for it to thrive in a classroom. I very much agree that for a student to do well in school and through out their learning and reading journey that they need to have the ability to do so for themselves and have the faith and belief in themselves that they can accomplish it.
This form of agency is brought on by teachers (choice) words. By asking questions similar to what Johnston did in his examples, we see how we are giving agency to a child to create their work. But by not only using this approach we are empowering students to see that by creating and owning their work that they can accomplish anything that they set their minds to. Reading, writing, and education gives agency and power to students who may not have otherwise had a voice. I truly believe that words have power and hold meaning. The words that we choose to use with our students can either bring them to an amazing place where they are learning and loving it or, it can tear them down leaving being behind in its wake a child lost.
One of the ways that I wish to implement this into my field work that I am currently doing is, when I am talking to my kids I use the language that Johnston describes. Such as open ended questions that show that the student has ownership of their work. For example, if I were to ask one of my students how they come to an answer to a question I can ask “How did you come to that answer? What was your reasoning for choosing this answer over the other?”. This allows the student to describe to me their thinking process and what their rational is behind their answer is.