Cloudy With a Chance of Sarcasm or Sunny With High Expectations

Abstract

What’s the forecast in your classroom? Are you forecasting cloudy with a chance of sarcasm or sunny with high expectations? A teacher’s Language of Practice holds the key to creating a climate of mutual respect in our schools. This article will explore the power and promise of “teacher language,” and how it can be used to promote respect and build positive relationships. We present the Best Practice Language (BPL) framework with its 11 word categories to assist educators in determining whether their professional Language of Practice is forecasting respect to others. This BPL framework is a foundation to strengthen Positive Behavior Intervention and Support efforts, and gives educators a practical method to transform their Language of Practice into BPL for promoting respectful schools.