ENCOURAGING AND EMPOWERING LANGUAGE

In the Responsive Classroom approach, our goal is to use our language to encourage and empower children. We encourage children when we notice and acknowledge their attempts to meet expectations. We empower children when we express faith in their ability to follow-through, recover controls, and make constructive choices.

Thus, some of the general characteristics of encouraging and empowering language include the following:

- Be specific and direct.
("We will start when I see everyone's eyes on Jason.")

- Speak to the child (or children) rather than about the child(ren).
("Leila, I noticed you stayed in your seat while I talked to Derek. Thanks for your cooperation.")

- Stress the deed not the doer. Describe actions and deeds rather than making judgments.
("I notice a lot of paper on the floor. We can't leave the room until it is clean.")

- Give children the opportunity to follow through with appropriate behavior.
("Show me how you can say that with your friendly words.")

- Frame a positive action and choice.
("You can walk slowly and quietly with your partner or you can walk next to me.")

Use the "3 R's (Reinforcing, Reminding, and Redirecting) to support encouraging and empowering language.
Teachers using a Responsive Classroom approach employ three simple structures to support encouraging and empowering language. We call those structures "The Three R's": to reinforce, to remind, to redirect.


About the Author: Ruth Sidney Charney is a highly respected education consultant and author. She is a co-developer of Northeast Foundation for Children and a pioneer in the Responsive Classroom approach.

- See more at: http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/columnists/charney/charney004.shtml#sthash.RX7z2TvC.dpuf

Kuntida 005 3EN

It's very interesting and useful for our teaching, Fai.
Sometimes, I don't know how to say some words or sentences to tell,order or ask pupils.
When they play the game or do the activity in the class, I have to tell/order them to do something.
Thank you for sharing, I will bring your technique to use in class and English Camp.



Pornrawin048 3EN

Some more useful phrases;

Right!
Yes!
Fine.
Quite right
That's right.
That's it.
That's correct.
That's quite right.
Yes, you've got it.
You've got the idea.
You were almost right.
That's almost it.
You're halfway there.
You've almost got it.
You're on the right lines.
There's no need to rush.
There's no hurry.
We have plenty of time
Go on. Have a try.
Have a go.
Have a guess.

Kuntida 005 3EN