Teaching Language as Action in the ELA Classroom

This book explores English language arts instruction from a social actions perspective, emphasizing the emotive, embodied, and inseparable nature of language from the intellectual life of the classroom. It provides examples and activities to enhance students' engagement in open-ended discussions, responses to literature, writing for audiences, drama activities, and online interactions, and fosters self-reflection to improve their sense of agency.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 210 pages
\n Publication date: 19 March 2019
\n Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd
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This comprehensive book delves into the realm of English language arts instruction, offering a fresh perspective that sees language as social actions enacted by students and teachers to foster supportive, trusting relationships within the classroom. By departing from a code-based view of language as mere systems or structures, the author adopts a languaging perspective that recognizes language as inherently emotive, embodied, and inseparable from the intellectual life of the classroom. Through extensive classroom examples, the book showcases how elementary and secondary ELA teachers can effectively apply this perspective to enhance students' engagement in open-ended discussions, responses to literature, writing for various audiences, drama activities, and online interactions. Moreover, the authors provide valuable methods for fostering students' self-reflection, empowering them to improve their sense of agency and contribute to enhancing relations in face-to-face, rhetorical, and online contexts. This insightful and practical guide is a valuable resource for educators seeking to cultivate a more dynamic and inclusive learning environment where students thrive both academically and socially.

Introduction:
In the realm of education, language plays a pivotal role in shaping the learning experience. Traditionally, language has been viewed as a set of rules and structures, with a focus on grammar, vocabulary, and syntax. However, a growing body of research suggests that language is more than just a tool for communication; it is a social action that involves students and teachers engaging with and toward one another to create supportive, trusting relationships. This book explores English language arts instruction from the perspective of language as social actions, highlighting the importance of creating a classroom environment that fosters positive relationships among students and teachers.
Perspective of Languaging as Social Actions:
The perspective of languaging as social actions takes up language as emotive, embodied, and inseparable from the intellectual life of the classroom. It recognizes that language is not just a means of conveying information but also a vehicle for expressing emotions, building relationships, and creating meaning. By adopting this perspective, teachers can create a more dynamic and engaging learning environment where students feel comfortable expressing their ideas and taking risks.
Enhancing Student Engagement:
One of the key benefits of adopting a languaging perspective is the enhancement of student engagement. By focusing on language as social actions, teachers can encourage students to participate actively in classroom discussions, respond to literature, write for various audiences, engage in drama activities, and participate in online interactions. Through extensive classroom examples, the book demonstrates how elementary and secondary ELA teachers can apply a languaging perspective to enhance students' engagement and promote deeper learning.
Fostering Self-Reflection:
In addition to enhancing student engagement, a languaging perspective also promotes self-reflection. By encouraging students to reflect on their language use and the impact it has on others, teachers can help students develop a sense of agency and ownership over their learning. This sense of agency can empower students to take control of their learning and contribute to the classroom community in meaningful ways.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, this book offers a valuable insight into English language arts instruction from the perspective of language as social actions. By adopting a languaging perspective, teachers can create a more dynamic and engaging learning environment where students feel comfortable expressing their ideas and taking risks. Through extensive classroom examples and practical strategies, the book demonstrates how elementary and secondary ELA teachers can apply a languaging perspective to enhance student engagement, foster self-reflection, and promote positive relationships within the classroom. This comprehensive guide is a valuable resource for educators seeking to create a more inclusive and effective learning environment for their students.

\n Weight: 328g\n
Dimension: 229 x 153 x 13 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780367026486\n \n