The Power of Talk

Felecia M. Briscoe, an associate professor, focuses her research on the relationship between power and knowledge. Her research interests are concerned with the development of educational equity especially as related to classism, racism, and sexism. She studies how power manifests in discourse. Her most recently published article is titled, "Reproduction of Racialized Hierarchies: Ethnic identities in the discourse of educational leadership." She has also just completed a co-authored manuscript in which she analyzes the discourse of the U.S. legislation, "No Child Left Behind." Briscoe has experienced a variety of teaching contexts. She started out as a seventh-grade science teacher in a public school in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also taught at the University of Cincinnati and at Concord College. She has been a member of the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Department at the University of Texas, San Antonio since the summer of 2000. Briscoe earned her doctorate in educational foundations from the University of Cincinnati. She also has an MA in psychology with an emphasis in experimental cognitive psychology and a BS in elementary education with an emphasis in science from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

This enlightening book helps educators use everyday language to create more equitable school environments, and offers exercises that strengthen communication and leadership skills.

List of TablesList of FiguresAcknowledgmentsAbout the AuthorsIntroduction Why? The Same Old Problem What? The Book's Purpose How? Achieving the Purpose What Will You Get Out of This Book? Avoiding the Master's Language Tools Overview of the Chapters Where and When Might the Book Be Used?1. The Power of Language: A Medium for Promoting Social Justice and Equity In What Ways Is Language a Transformative Force in Society? What Are Educational Equity and Social Justice What Are Critical Discourse Analysis and Critical Language Awareness Conclusion and Summary of Key Points2. Becoming Effective in Using Critical Language Awareness Noticing How Language Constructs Our Social World Relating the Trees to the Forest, and the Forest to the Trees Imagining Alternatives Coaching Teaching With Critical Language Awareness Using Memorable Examples, Metaphors, and Quotes Modeling, Teamwork, Inclusiveness, and Respect Conclusion and Summary of Key Points3. Avoiding Othering: Practicing Including Introduction A Change Agent in Action How Is Othering Harmful? Digging Deeper Into Othering From Othering to Inclusion and Dialogue Activities Conclusion and Summary of Key Points4. Disrupting Prejudice: A Communicative Approach Introduction Abstracting Communicative Model Developing a Data Culture Activity: Developing Language Skills for Disrupting Prejudice Conclusion and Summary of Key Points5. Exceptionalizing or Democratizing? Introduction Exceptionalizing: How It Promotes Inequities The Importance of Context Cognitive Disequilibrium and Exceptionalizing The Context of the Interviews Recognizing Exceptionalizing Discourse Revising for a More Democratizing Discourse Activities for Developing Democratizing Language Skills Conclusion and Summary of Key Points6. Recognizing and Revising Stratifying Discourse Introduction Key Concepts Recognizing and Revising Stratifying Discourse Activities for Developing Language Skills for Social Justice Conclusion and Summary of Key Points7. Contesting Labels Introduction Contesting Labels Acronyms as Deep Abstractions Talk Strategies Redressing Labels Through Institutional Action Thoughtful Inaction Activity: Crowning With Labels Conclusion and Summary of Key Points8. Conclusion: The Power of Talk Revisiting the Book¿s Objectives Using the Power of Talk for Social Justice A Final ThoughtReferencesIndex